Hello friends;
People usually ask me many questions about DOs & DON'Ts in photography so I decided to just answer some of these questions here.
Well, each day that passes I'm more impressed with all the technology available in photography and how accessible it's becoming.
Cameras that use to cost an arm and a leg are much cheaper now, due to an overload of new "stuff" makers have to put out in order to stay not only competitive but ahead of the game.
But here's where things get interesting, not necessarily in a good way. With all that technology out there, great accessible equipment and all that follows, I can't help myself to notice how people still have such a 'hard time' snapping a good shot!
You'll have the so common "underexposed" or "over", no background lighting, the unintended "fisheye" effect, crazy looong legs or huge head and small body, "legless", sometimes"headless","skyline" or "only sky"....
Or maybe when in front of the camera you're probably pretty familiar with the "blinky eye", "kissy kissy", the "look away", the "talker", the "I just hanged myself so that's why my tongue is hanging out" look, sometimes the "lizard head" and my personal favorite (this one is for the ladies): "the heavy mind"! (Don't get ahead of yourself. I'll explain.)
If you are like me (at least a bit like me) you like to shoot good images and also have good images of yourself right? I'll try to give you some pointers so you can do just that. Also I'm not going to use 'technical' terms, most people love using them, it makes them look and sound sooo smart. (lol)
So let me start with being behind the camera. (You're the shooter)
Whenever your shooting something or somebody make sure your camera is leveled. Some cameras even have "guides" in the viewer to help you with that but lets keep this simple, just hold the camera straight for vertical or horizontal shoots.
Once you got that down, it's now time to aim at the subject!
The reason I'm highlighting the "subject" part is that this is where for most people things go south, and you haven't even took the shot.
Position the camera in front of you, leveled with your chest or about 5 inches below your chest line. Let's say you're waaay taller or shorter than your subject. In that case level the camera with your subject chest line. That way you're not going to have any undesired 'effects' like the ones I mentioned like fisheye, long legs or huge head.
Do not shoot it down (or up for that matter) on the subject. Always bring yourself to it's level and go from there.
If your subject is in a seated position, make sure you go down too. Seat down or kneel down and use your chest (or subjects) as your level.
I don't know why people do this but they do. Don't raise your camera above your head to take a picture! Your subject is in front of you and by doing that you're making them look like a bottle cap! (You will only have to raise your camera if for example there's a crowd in front of you and you're trying to snap a shot of the President passing by. If that's not the case, just keep it down)
In the camera there will be a viewer or even better, An LCD screen. These are usually rectangle or square shaped.
Make sure your subject is in it's entirety inside that screen you're looking at. (Don't worry, you can actually crop the image afterwards if preferable)
Do not crop the legs and show all the trees, buildings or the blue sky. (My "favorite" would be inside shots with legs cropped and the "beautiful" ceiling overhead.)
Cameras are equipped with a built in flash, and I'll talk about the "standard"/"normal" and "soft" mode. (Also bringing into this specific subject "zooming" in or out. It kinda goes together)
If you're using "normal" flash (default in most cameras, by the way if your camera is in "auto" mode it will use "normal" flash) step back enough to fit your subject on the screen and then zoom in if required. The flash should be enough to 'cover' that.
Now if you find yourself in a situation that space is limited and the shot will have to be kinda close, that's when "soft" flash comes handy. That way the possibility of an "overexposed" shot diminishes a good percentage. Of course if the shot is too close even the "soft" flash will result in overexposure. (Too much light)
Another situation:
Let's say you're in a well lit gymnasium trying to take shot of the game. Every time you shoot you can see that people in front of you were affected by the flash but your subject is in the "dark". I'm not going to get into the specifics but what you have to do is: Turn off the flash. In well lit areas you can do that (doesn't mean you have to) but you can. Just remember that your camera is not very fast (shutter speed) and that's why you could experience some "motion blur" if the subject is moving. (basketball game for example)
Now if you find yourself in front of the camera, the best and most flattering way to be is........yourself! (without the guimics you may think makes you look 'better')
-If you have a bit of a "blinky blinky" problem, before the shot 'relax' close your eyes for 1 or 2 seconds and open naturally right before the shot.
-Face the camera as if you had to touch the camera panel with the tip of your nose. (that way it won't be a profile, neck or the famous "double chin" shot)
-Save the kisses for someone you like, don't throw them away. Keep "Kissy Kissy" out of the picture.
-Again, not only face the camera but look at it until you 'see the light'. (ha) Just don't look away.
-If somebody is trying to take a picture of you do them (and yourself) a favor: Please Stop talking! It will just take a few seconds.
-Keep your tongue inside. Don't let it hang out or bite on it. That is not a flattering look for you, no matter who you are.
-I'm not sure if people are trying to get closer to the camera or maybe to others in the shot but that makes them the "Lizard Heads" (as I nicely call them) So if your are one of them, I tell you this: Keep you head on top of your body, and by that I mean aligned with it. There's no need to push your head forward.
-There's something about this next one and the ladies, they love it! ("The Heavy Mind") There's absolutely no need to drop your head to the side in order to take a picture!
By doing that you are showing your neck line instead of your face, or maybe looking like you have a broken neck. Keep your posture straight, face the camera, do not drop your head to the side and you'll notice you look way better that way.
Look, I know some of the things I'm citing here are ok in some circumstances (Excluding "the heavy mind". That one is never ok unless you want to look like you have a neck problem). After all, photography is suppose to be fun and it certainly is. This is just a way to help you look and feel better about pictures of yourself.
And yes I know, this is what the manual is for! But who want's to read it anyway right!? (ha)
The most important thing is relax, be yourself, stop trying to look like somebody else. You're beautiful. All you have to do is show it! We all have unique features, we just have to find the best way to present them.
There are many guimics out there but I'll tell you this: Nothing beats being yourself and shooting a beautiful smile back when the camera looks at you.
Hope this helps you take better pictures behind and in front of the camera.
Feel free to contact me with questions and if I missed something you'd like to know about, shoot me a comment.
Thanks for stopping by and go shoot some pictures!!!
NaNo Diaz
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