Taking Great Pictures

Top Ten• Look your subject in the eye• Use a plain background• Use flash outdoors• Move in close• Move it from the middle• Lock the focus• Know your flash’s range• Watch the light• Take some vertical pictures• Be a picture director

Look Your Subject In The Eye

• Hold camera at eye level

• Stoop to children’s level

• Subject doesn’t always need to stare at the cameraToo high Better

Use a Plain Background

• Study the surrounding area

• Make sure no objects interfere with the subject• No poles growing

from the head of your subject

• No cars dangling from ears (etc)

Distracting background

Better

Use Flash Outdoors• Bright sun can create

deep facial shadows• Use Flash to eliminate

shadows and to lighten face

• Use flash on cloudy days• Take a picture without

the flash to take advantage of soft light

Subject is dark

After

Move In Close• Fill the picture area

with the subject• Don’t get too close

• 3 feet or 1 step away

Good

BetterToo close

Move it From the Middle

• Middle is not the best• Moving subject from

middle brings picture to life

• Use tick-tack-toe method to find optimal view• Place subject at one

of the intersections

Boring

Better

Lock the Focus

• If subject is not in the center, lock the focus• Most cameras focus

in the centerSubject not in focus, or locked

Better

Know Your Flash’s Range

• Don’t go beyond maximum flash range• Average range is

less than 15 feet or 5 steps away Without flash or more than flash range

With flash or within flash range

Watch the Light• Light is the second

most important detail• Bright sun could be

bad• Soft light could be

good

• Landscapes are best in the morning or late in the day

Good

Also good

Take Some Vertical Pictures

• Try vertical pictures

• Many things look better vertically

Good

Better

Be a Picture Director

• Take charge• Pick the location• Add props

• Sunglasses, clothes,etc

• Arrange people or the subject if possible

Boring

Better