Photo Tips
Modern digital cameras have made taking photos pretty easy, but pressing the button is only 0ne part of taking a good photo. The other part is the composition (what’s in the frame) and that’s all up to the photographer. Here are some tips & tricks to help you take better photos.
1. Keep it Simple – Decide what the subject of the photo is going to be and concentrate on composing a photo that will focus on that, try and eliminate any other distractions from the photo.
2. Take your time – Spend a few moments thinking about what you want in the photo and where you want the focal point to be. Pay attention to the background and where the light is coming from. Move around to “compose” a better shot.
3. Aim to Miss - Placement of the main subject is important, but “aim to miss” as often a photo will look more interesting when the subject is not in the exact center. The “Rule Of Thirds”
4. Angles - Try shooting from angles other than “eye level”. Get down low (when photographing kids) or up high to give a different view to what we normally see. Varying angles and heights will help create a more interesting collection of photos.
5. Get in close – Don’t be afraid to get up close to your subject (especially when photographing faces) as it helps simplify the photo by reducing distractions from the surrounds (close up of faces can also be made into great black & white photos – which look great in Silver or Black Fridgi frames).
6. When taking photos of of large objects, or from a long distance, try and include a recognizable object in the foreground (a person or building) to add a sense of scale and size to the photo.
7. Take both horizontal & vertical photos – The different perspective can make 2 photos look very different (& you might like the unexpected one). Get in the habit of doing the Fridgi Flip when you take a photo (named after a Fridgi because it is so easy to flip from horizontal to vertical).
8. Take lots of photos !!! There is no cost when you take a photo with a digital camera so take lots. The pros take dozens of photos to get just one good one. Get in the habit of taking lots, move around, change angles, position the subject in different places, do the Fridgi Flip.
9. Want a fun photo? Ask people to jump. A jump adds energy and gets people smiling (you might need to set your camera to sport/action mode to increase the shutter speed and eliminate blur).
10. Regularly review your photos (weekly, monthly or quarterly). When you find one you like pay attention to why (subject placement, light, angle, etc) this reviewing process will help improve you “natural” photography skills. Also pay attention to other photos you like (magazines, newspapers, friends, etc) and when you see one you like think a little bit about why and incorporate that into your photos as well.
11. Get in the habit of regularly printing your favourite photos – A photo is in a safe physical format when printed. Put the best ones on display with some Fridgi frames, they are easy to use and their plain border will draw your eye into the photo and focus attention on it. If you use a frame with a pattern or lots of colours the eye will be distracted from the photo and it will appear less interesting.
More Photo Taking Tips
Taking Photos on Christmas Day>>
