Do you love photography or just enjoy taking pictures, but feel like pricey cameras are keeping professional-looking photos out of reach? Here are 3 key tips sure to make your holiday photos look top-notch without investing in expensive equipment. To make sure that your photos of loved ones are taken professionally, you may consider hiring an photographer.
1. Forget the Flash
Ever wonder why throwaway camera pictures have off-kilter coloring? Flash is your culprit!
Unless you’re shooting in the dark, forget it even exists. Keep your camera steady and try to shoot in early morning or early evening light to get the best natural shadows and highlights from your environment. Additionally, if your camera allows it, adjust shutter speed (a.k.a. ISO) to control the amount of light you’re letting in (higher ISO = more light = best for darker environments).
2. Learn The Rule of Thirds
NEVER put your subject in the center of the frame. Instead, picture your camera view as being divided into three sections, and keep your subject in either the left-hand or right-hand third. Also, remember the “halo” rule: make sure to leave space above and around the subject’s head so that they don’t look crammed into the shot.
3. Know Your Angles
America’s Next Top Model contestants aren’t the only ones who need to understand angles. An otherwise-boring shot can be instantly spruced up by changing your perspective.
Want to make your subject look more important and/or taller? Shoot from below. On the flipside, shooting from above can also make a subject look smaller, but slimmer, so a higher perspective might be the answer to soothing subjects with any worries, while also being fabulously spontaneous.
Do you have a unique photo tip to share? Let us know what you do to spruce up your special holiday photos.
