Search Results for: blog digital camera tips taking portraits

Lights, Camera, Action!

Don’t let summer draw to a close without snapping some action shots with your digital camera. Take a break from posed portraits and start snapping action-packed images of your kids swimming in the pool or your partner running down the beach. However, before you wear out your finger pressing your camera’s shutter button, be sure to keep the following tips in mind: Aperture: Manipulating my camera’s aperture in order to stop action has been one of my biggest downfalls this summer. Using a low aperture will allow the most light into the camera. This is extremely important if you are … Continue reading →

Easter Family Portrait Tips

Whether you have a family of five or 15, you want your clan to look its best when shooting Easter portraits. In order to snap frame worthy family shots during the holiday weekend, consider the following tips: Coordinate: You don’t want to set up a shot that features little Johnny in his Easter Sunday best while grandpa is sporting his work overalls and boots. Consistency and coordination is key when taking family portraits. When you are shooting a large group you want to direct the viewer’s attention to the subjects’ faces, not a slew of distracting garments. While you don’t … Continue reading →

Taking Pictures at Target

Did you know that Target has an in-house portrait studio? Apparently, I don’t get out much. Actually, I blame my location. Target portrait studios exist, but only in select stores. I stumbled upon one while visiting a friend who lives just outside of a major metropolitan area, and I was quite impressed with what I saw. For starters, if you forget your coupons at home, Target portrait studio has some available at the front counter. I suppose it helps lure walk-in traffic, but I have been to many in-store portrait studios that wouldn’t dream of offering you discounts on sessions … Continue reading →

Simple Tips for Taking Group Shots

I’m finally getting around to editing the digital photos I took of my daughter’s birthday party. The birthday party that her entire kindergarten class attended. It was a wild and crazy day, but I scored a ton of great group shots of the kids and some of the parents. Whereas I would have loved to have been able to afford a professional photographer for the event, knowing how to take decent group shots of a big event can help you save valuable time and money. Here are some tips I always keep in mind when shooting group shots: Consider Color: … Continue reading →

Tips for Taking that Perfect Photo: Post Processing

Once you have the perfect shot of your baby, there are a few more things you can do on your computer to make it extra special. You don’t need to have expensive software, such as Photoshop, though it is nice to have. You can use free applications such as Picasa to edit your photos. If you don’t want to download software to your desktop, you can use free editing tools on websites like Photobucket. (If you missed the first four parts of this series, scroll down to the bottom for links.) Color Playing with color can really make a difference … Continue reading →

Tips for Taking that Perfect Photo: Art of Distraction

This week I’m talking about baby portraits. Is there anything more precious than great photos of your baby? Since babies grow, develop and change so rapidly, a digital camera is almost as important as the diapers you burn through each day. I’ve given you advice about Timing, Lighting, and Props. Today I’m going to teach you how to get your baby to not only look at the camera, but smile, too! It’s all about distraction, and it’s definitely an art. Nobody does it better than mom, which is why I’m such a huge advocate for taking baby’s portraits yourself! Figure … Continue reading →

Basic Photo Tips for Digital Camera Owners

These days digital cameras are the standard when it comes to taking amateur photos. The popular cameras have virtually eliminated the need for film, which means digital photographers can snap to their heart’s content without worrying about wasting film. The number of images you can take at a single event can easily number into the hundreds. But despite the advancement in technology many amateur photographers find they are getting quantity but not quality—-in which case you might want to consider the following tips: FRAMING Good composition goes a long way when it comes to snapping a decent photograph. Try to … Continue reading →

SNAP! Processing Photo Tips

I’ve spent several blogs providing tips on how to capture the perfect shot. I’ve always maintained that one of the most important aspects of photography is framing. To me framing makes or breaks a shot. As such, I tend to pay close attention to advice that deals with framing. Others insist proper lighting is the key to a frame-worthy photo. I agree lighting is a major factor in photography, but again, I tend to concentrate and experiment more with framing. There are hundreds of photography manuals that provide advice on how to shoot like the professionals. However, my experience has … Continue reading →

Experimenting With Your New Camera

Holidays are one of the most popular times to take photographs. Which is why last year I asked for a new camera in August (the month of my birthday). Doing so allowed me to experiment with my new device for at least three months before I used it to capture magical holiday moments. If you don’t feel your camera is providing you with the quality photos you desire now is the time of year to purchase a new one. Not only will you be able to take advantage of some amazing end of the season sales, but you will also … Continue reading →

Buying a Digital Camera: Resolution Explained

If you are shopping for a new digital camera, no doubt that you are looking at resolution and megapixels. But what does it all mean? Here is a thorough guide to this important digital camera feature. What are megapixels? The megapixel count of a digital camera has to do with the resolution capability of the camera, or in other words, how sharp and clear your photos will be. Each image is made up of megapixels. Think of a modern artist who makes up his masterpieces using only colored dots. The more (and smaller) dots he uses, the sharper and more … Continue reading →