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Photography Poses – The Missing
Ingredient
by: Robert Bezman
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 5 different categories of poses with tips, scroll
to the middle of http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/
photography-pose.html.
Article courtesy of http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com,
where you can see some sample pictures including more photography tips.
Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.
Here is today's feature Photography article.
Take Beautiful Landscape and Nature Photos
by: Kelly Paal
We’ve all been there. Spent a lot of money to go to someplace we’ve never been before. We’ve taken the photos and brought them home expecting family and friends to ooh and aah over the shots we’ve taken. You open the envelope and take out the prints and somehow the landscapes and nature shots that looked so beautiful there look flat, dull, and you don’t remember seeing that couple in the corner of your shot when you snapped the shutter.
Click here to read the whole article.
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