Friday, May 4, 2007

Photography Poses – The Missing Ingredient

You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the best price on your first digital camera, and even glanced at its owner's manual. Are you itching to take some shots of your family, or what?

Slow down, soldier. Before you take 200 shots that seem great at the time, but then upon review of the final picture are less than what you expected, let's prepare. Prepare?!?! I'll bet you thought charging the battery was the hardest part of taking great photos, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to improve your photo results 50% in 2 minutes, let's review some basic advice of the pros.

There are two categories of GENERAL ADVICE which applies, regardless of whether you're using a digital camera to take family portrait poses, baby pictures, pet portraits, group pictures, funny photos, or even maternity portraits. The first category is...

"Good Planning" Advice for Photography Poses

1) Prepare For The Event
Prepare for the event by thinking about every photograph you want to take and what kind of photography pose or poses you would like to capture. Consider who, where, how, and the type of environment.

2) Take Multiple Photographs
Take multiple shots of each pose (remember, digital memory is reusable, a.k.a. "free"). Regardless of what you say or do, people will blink. And don't count on spotting small problems on the tiny camera LCD screen (even on full magnification); which leads to...

3) Check LCD Screen
Check the digital camera's LCD screen for general framing of the picture, any movement, visibility of faces, and the histogram. Note that you can think up a fantastic photography pose; arrange everyone perfectly; and, have the photograph "frozen" (no blinking, and no shaking of the camera)...but, when you check it out in the LCD, you see 2 drunks fighting in the background! And, my favorite...

4) Funny Phrases
Have some funny phrases handy to use just before you take the photo. Don't use it when setting up for the shot. And, don't use the same phrase all the time. Throw in funny anecdotes, phrases, names, words that you know your family will find more amusing than "cheese." A natural smile looks four times better than a fake one. The second category is...

"Location" Advice for Photography Poses
Taking indoor family photography, is very different than outdoor family photograph (duh!). For INDOOR pictures...

1) Wide Angle
You will tend to use the wide angle more often than your telephoto setting. Pay particular attention to your "end people" (those farthest to the right and the left in your viewfinder), and verify there is enough space in picture, so that if cropping is required, the end people don't have to lose a limb.

2) The Flash
Flash considerations are critical. Do not be outside your "flash range." For example, if at ISO 100, your flash can properly illuminate 12 feet, don't attempt any photography pose that requires anyone to stand at 14 feet (unless, of course, it's evil cousin Ira who you want to appear in darkness).

3) Plan "B"
If you need to be further away than your flash allows, here are 2 things you can try...First, increase the ISO setting (but not so much as to produce to much noise), or second, move to a significantly brighter location.

4) Watch Your Background
If there are distracting features, change your settings to blur the background (see the Techniques page). The best photography pose in the world won't look right with a distracting background. And finally...

5) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
If there are mirrors or reflective surfaces in the background and you can't find a different location, only take the picture in such a way that the flash is not perpendicular to the surface, but at an angle (unless you want a nice photo of your flash).

Outdoor family photography has completely different issues. For OUTDOOR photography...

6) The Sun
Avoid photographing in direct sunlight, or in mixed light and shade, especially faces. Optimal lighting results from a slightly overcast sky.

7) Shade
When photographing in shade, use fill-flash (see terms) when necessary. And, really finally...

8) Beauty
If practical, take the picture at one of the beautiful natural settings near you. Imagine the result of a creative photography pose captured in a stunning environment. Can you say: "Over the mantle!"?

To see 5 different categories of poses with tips, scroll to the middle of Photography Pose.

Article courtesy of Best Family Photography Tips.comFeature Articles, where you can see some sample pictures including more photography tips.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Bezman is a professional photographer and owner of Custom Photographic Expressions. Robert has created www.best-family-photography-tips.com to help the digital photography users create better photographs. Robert has a blog at
http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/family-photography-news.html

Canon Digital Camera

Knowing that you need to better understand this topic I recommend that you take Five minutes to read what we have to say.
The another diversity of cameras that are in use these days, range from the convention manual camera, to the automaton like camera, to the digital camera. And the best place to find all of these is in the range of Canon digital camera models which are available on the market today. .

Canon is constantly updating its products and you have a broad range of styles and features available when you go in for a Canon digital camera. These features can be found in many dissimilar digital cameras like that of the Canon Digital SD550, the Canon Digital PowerShot S2, and others of its ilk.

The features to be found on the dissimilar canon digital cameras can range from a bigger than ordinary Liquid crystal display display, to stereophonic sound recording, to low image noise resolution and others. To see what the diverse features are for the dissimilar camera models you might have to compare them as you shop around.

For instance you will find that the Canon digital camera PowerShot S2 has a Five Megapixel CCD, and a new Night Show which allows your LCD and EVH to become brighter in low light. You will also find film options in this Canon digital camera like mic level, and a wind filter which can’t be found in earlier models.

With the Canon digital camera SD500 features like a continuous shooting mode can be found, as well as a redeye decrease option which has been designed into the camera via a entire illuminator. This Canon digital camera also has a 1.8 low temperature LCD, a Flashy Exposure Lock function to help you in your photography.

Some of the features to be found in these more expensive Canon digital cameras can also be found in the less expensive digital compact cameras. This diverseness in features and models is also reflected in the cost of the many Canon Digital cameras as they can start from about $100 and go upwards.

The literal cost of the cameras should be looked into at the time you are cerebration of purchasing your camera, as the prices will be internal to variation and advances in technology.

When you’re looking at the range of Canon digital cameras as well finding out what are the versatile functions and features you might also want to find out what accessories are part of the camera, and which ones you’ll have to purchase separately.

These accessories for the Canon digital cameras let in things like a telephoto lens, a encompassing weight lens, a battery battery charger or kit, an A/C power adaptor, external flash, and a carrying case amongst other things.

As you can see from the number of options available to you, buying a photographic camera isn’t what it used to be 50 years agoArticle Submission, there are a number of things that you will want to look into first before purchasing your camera. But with the Canon digital camera range the world can be at your fingertips as you can select the perfect photographic camera to suit you.

I trust this article provided you with the information you were looking for. I have many other articles online that may be of interest to you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Malega presents several Canon Digital Camera articles for your information. You can visit Michael's web site at: http://www.canon-cheap-digital-cameras.com/Canon-Digital-Camera.php