| You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got | | | | 1) Wide Angle |
| the best price on your first digital camera, and even | | | | You will tend to use the wide angle more often than |
| glanced at its owner's manual. Are you itching to take | | | | your telephoto setting. Pay particular attention to your |
| some shots of your family, or what? | | | | "end people" (those farthest to the right and the left in |
| Slow down, soldier. Before you take 200 shots that | | | | your viewfinder), and verify there is enough space in |
| seem great at the time, but then upon review of the | | | | picture, so that if cropping is required, the end people |
| final picture are less than what you expected, let's | | | | don't have to lose a limb. |
| prepare. Prepare?!?! I'll bet you thought charging the | | | | 2) The Flash |
| battery was the hardest part of taking great photos, | | | | Flash considerations are critical. Do not be outside your |
| didn't you? Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to | | | | "flash range." For example, if at ISO 100, your flash can |
| improve your photo results 50% in 2 minutes, let's | | | | properly illuminate 12 feet, don't attempt any |
| review some basic advice of the pros. | | | | photography pose that requires anyone to stand at 14 |
| There are two categories of GENERAL ADVICE | | | | feet (unless, of course, it's evil cousin Ira who you want |
| which applies, regardless of whether you're using a | | | | to appear in darkness). |
| digital camera to take family portrait poses, baby | | | | 3) Plan "B" |
| pictures, pet portraits, group pictures, funny photos, or | | | | If you need to be further away than your flash allows, |
| even maternity portraits. The first category is... | | | | here are 2 things you can try...First, increase the ISO |
| "Good Planning" Advice for Photography Poses | | | | setting (but not so much as to produce to much noise), |
| 1) Prepare For The Event | | | | or second, move to a significantly brighter location. |
| Prepare for the event by thinking about every | | | | 4) Watch Your Background |
| photograph you want to take and what kind of | | | | If there are distracting features, change your settings |
| photography pose or poses you would like to capture. | | | | to blur the background (see the Techniques page). The |
| Consider who, where, how, and the type of | | | | best photography pose in the world won't look right |
| environment. | | | | with a distracting background. And finally... |
| 2) Take Multiple Photographs | | | | 5) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall |
| Take multiple shots of each pose (remember, digital | | | | If there are mirrors or reflective surfaces in the |
| memory is reusable, a.k.a. "free"). Regardless of what | | | | background and you can't find a different location, only |
| you say or do, people will blink. And don't count on | | | | take the picture in such a way that the flash is not |
| spotting small problems on the tiny camera LCD | | | | perpendicular to the surface, but at an angle (unless |
| screen (even on full magnification); which leads to... | | | | you want a nice photo of your flash). |
| 3) Check LCD Screen | | | | Outdoor family photography has completely different |
| Check the digital camera's LCD screen for general | | | | issues. For OUTDOOR photography... |
| framing of the picture, any movement, visibility of | | | | 6) The Sun |
| faces, and the histogram. Note that you can think up a | | | | Avoid photographing in direct sunlight, or in mixed light |
| fantastic photography pose; arrange everyone | | | | and shade, especially faces. Optimal lighting results |
| perfectly; and, have the photograph "frozen" (no | | | | from a slightly overcast sky. |
| blinking, and no shaking of the camera)...but, when you | | | | 7) Shade |
| check it out in the LCD, you see 2 drunks fighting in the | | | | When photographing in shade, use fill-flash (see terms) |
| background! And, my favorite... | | | | when necessary. And, really finally... |
| 4) Funny Phrases | | | | 8) Beauty |
| Have some funny phrases handy to use just before | | | | If practical, take the picture at one of the beautiful |
| you take the photo. Don't use it when setting up for | | | | natural settings near you. Imagine the result of a |
| the shot. And, don't use the same phrase all the time. | | | | creative photography pose captured in a stunning |
| Throw in funny anecdotes, phrases, names, words | | | | environment. Can you say: "Over the mantle!"? |
| that you know your family will find more amusing than | | | | To see 5 different categories of poses with tips, scroll |
| "cheese." A natural smile looks four times better than a | | | | to the middle of Photography Pose. |
| fake one. The second category is... | | | | Article courtesy of Best Family Photography Tips.com, |
| "Location" Advice for Photography Poses | | | | where you can see some sample pictures including |
| Taking indoor family photography, is very different than | | | | more photography tips. |
| outdoor family photograph (duh!). For INDOOR | | | | Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved. |
| pictures... | | | | |