The holidays create terrific photo-ops
Even the most photographically-challenged reach for their camera to create their annual group portrait shot.
here are a few tips I use for creating great photos of Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years or any mid-winter holiday. This year, you'll walk away from the upcoming holidays with absolutely more terrific photographs that you've ever captured.
Move in Closer and use Creative Composing
It doesn't matter if you're photographing family, friends or the symbolic holiday subjects, becoming creative with your compositions certainly will help. This means paying particular attention to how each photo's elements are organized.
There are a couple of primary concepts to think about when artistically composing your scene:
1. Use the Rule of Thirds and position your camera so your primary subject appears to one side. This works out
particularly well if you are able to balance your primary subject with some other background object, preferably on the opposite side of your photo. For instance, if you are shooting a picturesque candle, try putting it on the left with a decorated Christmas tree (or another supporting subject) softly blurred into the background at the right. This will produce a picture that records both the candle showing all its splendor and does it in a creative, artistic fashion.
2. Get in close. particularly if your subject is centered although even when you make it off-center, getting in closer is the single thing that can make the most difference with your photographic success.
There's a simple fact that viewers are typically more impressed with huge subjects that are difficult to miss. Therefore, fill the frame with your subject. Let
s say you are going to photograph the candle refer to above, although you have no Christmas tree (or some other equivalent supporting object) for your background. In this situation, you might think about moving in as near as possible. Causing all of your frame to be overflowing with the candle and will inevitably conclude in a picture which has a total impact upon your viewers.
For Better Family and Group Holiday Portraits
The single most important thing when photographing famlies and groups is that you absolutely must shoot a lot of images.
Often there is a great amount of pressure while photographing groups of people. People typically complain about getting a picture taken and desire the process to be over with quickly. They have experienced not so good portrait photographers in their past and now dislike both the procedure and the results.
Now it's your job to triumph over these obstacles. You must work quickly to accomplish the job within the limitations of their patience. And you must to keep their experience as friendly and fun as feasible, so they think about with a positive thought.
More than both of these objectives, though, you must obtain the most perfect photos possible. And more than any other thing this means shooting a large amount of photos. Since someone is always looking off to one side, blinking or facing some other member in the group, creating a large amount of images will provide you with the best opportunities of photographing everyone appearing their best.
Go Ahead and
Shoot, Ask any Questions Later
Particularly when your subject's a child just opening their gift, or perhaps playing with their gift for the very first time, as you know from experience that, in just a split second, your scene can drastically change. Often there is only a few brief seconds when that "magic moment" presents itself. The very reason is so imperative to be totally prepared to acquire the moment as it occurs. Naturally this involves having your camera at hand with fully charged batteries. There's no way you can capture that moment if your camera is not hand and good to go.
Although, even more than just having your camera at hand, comes down to being forceful with your photography-taking. Being prepared to push that shutter at the blink of an eye, anticipating when that magic moment will appear. If you have one of those digital cameras that suffers from somewhat of a pause when acquiring a photo, then you will need to become ever more skilled and intuitive at anticipating the magic moment.
In any case, shoot swiftly and shoot frequently. Never be shy - obtaining a great photograph at the just the right moment in time is gratifying and well worth any extra effort.
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