I have had several people approach me about helping them with their photography. Although I don’t really have the time right now, with a new business, a new baby and 4 other kiddos, I thought I could start posting weekly tips on my blog. So in the future look for Tuesday’s Tips for better photos.
Today we are going to talk a little bit about cameras. It is so easy to say “Oh, my photos would be better if only I had a better camera.” We live in such a gadget focused world that it is so easy to fall prey to the “I need that” disease- you can find it all over photography forums.
Have you ever gone over to a friend’s house, had an amazing meal and then ask what brand of pots and pans they have, expecting to be able to cook the same meal at home? Getting the same paint and canvas as an artist doesn’t mean that you will instantly be able to create a masterpiece. If you want to be impressed go to www.thebestcamera.com to see fabulous pictures taken with iphones. So many people think that once they get a DSLR (the big cameras with interchangeable lenses) they automatically get fantastic photos, but that isn’t the case. In fact, if you have no plans to shoot in manual, you’d probably be best served by a point and shoot. As you build your photography skills, you might want to upgrade to a DSLR, but you can begin taking better pictures with whatever camera you currently own.
Tip #1: READ YOUR MANUAL
You know the little book that came with your camera. If you are anything like me that book is somewhere in a box, in a closet… maybe. Good news! Google your camera make and model number and you should be able to find a PDF version on the web. Find out what the icons other than the green square do.
Tip #2: Take lots of pictures!
Don’t reserve the camera for special occasions. Use it every day. One advantage of point and shoots is that they are often small enough to fit in a pocket or purse. Taking more pictures will help in several ways. First it will help you to see things a little different. You will start noticing things you didn't notice before. Secondly, great for all of you moms, your kids will get so used to it that they have no problem going on with their regular lives. If you only pull it out for special occasions and then line everyone up to say cheese, all you will ever get is stiff pictures with bad flash and red eye.
Tip #3: Take pictures during the action instead of stopping the action.
This is really just a continuation of tip#2. Try to capture life rather than taking a picture. Sometimes the best pictures are the ones where someone is wrapped up in what they are doing. It will always have more emotion than calling someone over and telling them to say cheese. Most times all you need is to say their name for them to look up and then quickly snap the picture. I am not saying that the attached picture is some phenominal image, but it is a great capture of a sweet moment and that is my primary goal for our family snapshots.
CAPTURE LIFE! Snap those photos because before you know it, the moment will be gone and the babies will be grown.
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