Ten Top Tips of Taking Photos

Try out these tips and see how gorgeous your pictures will look.

Step 1: Get Down on Their Level

• Hold your camera to the subject's eye level
• For kids and pets, that means getting down on their level to take the picture
• They don't have to look directly into the camera. The eye level angle by itself will create a personal and inviting feeling

Step 2: Use a Plain Background

• Before taking a picture, check the area behind the subject
• A cluttered background will be distracting while a plain background will emphasize your subject

Step 3: Use Flash Outdoors

• Even outdoors, use the fill flash setting on your camera to improve your pictures
• Use it in bright sunlight to lighten dark shadows
• Use it in cloudy days, to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background

Step 4: Move in Closer

• To create impactful pictures, move in close and fill your picture with the subject
• Move a few steps closer or use the zoom until the subject fills the viewfinder. You will eliminate background distractions and show off the details in your subject

Step 5: Take Some Vertical Pictures

• Many subjects look better in a vertical picture
• Make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways to take some vertical pictures

Step 6: Lock the Focus

• Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of off-center subjects
  1. Center the subject
  2. Press the shutter button halfway down
  3. Re-frame your picture (while still holding the shutter button)
  4. Finish by pressing the shutter button all the way

Step 7: Move It From the Middle

• Bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off-center
• Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder. Now place your subject at one of the intersections of lines
• Since most cameras focus on whatever is in the middle, remember to lock the focus on your subject before re-framing the shot

Step 8: Know Your Flash's Range

• Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark
• For many cameras, that's only ten feets
• If the subject is further than ten feet from the camera, the picture may be too dark

Step 9: Watch the Light

• Great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of lights in your pictures
• For people pictures, choose the soft lighting of cloudy days. Avoid overhead sunlight that casts harsh showers across the faces
• For scenic pictures, use the long shadows and color of early and late daylight

Step 10: Be a Picture Director

• Take an extra minute and become a picture director, not just a passive picture taker
• Add some props, rearrange your subjects, or try a different viewpoint