Taking great photos is easy if you follow a few guidelines
1. Use the rule of thirds.
- Split your frame into thirds vertically. If outside, the sky should be in the upper 1/3 and your subjects in the lower 2/3.
- Split your frame into thirds horizontally. Your subject should be in 2/3 leaving 1/3 on one side. Perfectly centered is not as appealing
2. Look at your background
- Light should come from in front of the subject. Coming from behind will creat a silhouette. Use backlight setting if need be.
- Make sure your background colors compliment or create an interesting contrast to the colors in your subject. If a person is wearing all black, shooting them in front of a dark hall will make them look like a floating head. A bridesmaid dressed in a hot pink dress will clash with a brick wall background.
- Remove any trash or debris (or other people) from the background making sure it looks clean.
3. Get close or use zoom.
- People have a tendency to shoot with too much “margin” in their picture. You don’t need blank space. However, you can use objects to frame a subject, for example, a tree trunk and branch can form an upsidedown L over your subject.
- Don’t be afraid to move your body. Move closer if need be.
4. Look for action or emotion. Every good photograph tells a story.
- Use the sports setting when shooting moving objects or children
- You want to be able to see the expression on people’s faces in your photos. Take close-ups of just people’s faces to show intimacy.
5. You have automatic and digital, so take a couple of each shot. Take one zoomed in. Take one with a flash. Try a few settings to make sure you get the best shot.
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