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| 1. |
The very best way to improve your photos is to press the button gently when you take a picture. Pressing it hard or fast can cause camera movement, making the picture appear blurred or out of focus. |
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| 2. |
If you shoot on a beach, look to see if there's a snow/beach exposure setting on your camera and use it. Or if that's not available, you might be able to set the exposure compensation to adjust for the brighter scenes. Add 1 or 2 stops exposure for a beach scene. The rule of thumb for correcting for too light & too dark subjects (as compared with average subjects) is if it's light, make it lighter (add F stops or exposure) and if it's dark, make it darker (subtract F stops of exposure). ALSO: Be very careful around the salt spray of the ocean, it can wreak havoc on sensitive electronics so keep exposure to the ocean air at a minimum. |
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| 3. |
Resist the urge to shoot at a downward angle when taking photos of children, pets or any subject that is much smaller or shorter than you. Either bring the subject up or bring your camera down to the subject by kneeling. |
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| 4. |
To emphasize the main subject (the people in your photos), keep the background as uncluttered and simple as possible. |
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| 5. |
If you have a zoom lens on your camera, step further away from your subject and zoom in. This will cause the background to blur more, thus emphasizing the people you're focusing on. This is a common technique all portrait photographers use! |
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| 6. |
Use a flash, if possible, to supplement your outdoor daylight portraits. It will help you achieve a flawless look by minimizing wrinkles and harsh shadows. (if you still see wrinkles in the picture afterward, we can help!) |
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| 7. |
When photographing a person, try shooting them from an angle. This not only helps them look slimmer (something many people appreciate) but also creates more interesting angles in your photo. |
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| 8. |
Try including props ... flowers, stuffed animals, toys, or a favorite hat adds personality and color to your portrait photos. |