Photography is a great way to bond with your children. Teaching them how to take pictures will help to build their self-esteem, and looking through the photographs you both took will help bring the two of you closer together. This article will give you some tips for making the most of teaching your children about photography.
When you have the shot set up, don’t delay! Taking longer to snap a photo increases the odds that something will move, change or in other ways ruin your perfect photo op. The faster you can get your pictures taken, the better.
Be mindful of the framing of your subject. What this means will vary by subject. For instance, if you are taking a picture of one person, getting a close shot where the subject fills the frame is your best bet, since details are important. On the other hand, a landscape shot might benefit from being further away, as you get the entire scene this way.
Make sure you hold the camera correctly. Holding the camera correctly reduces the chance that an inopportune movement ruins your shot. Hold the camera with your arms close to your body and the palm of your hand under the camera to prevent the camera from falling or shaking.
If you want to take high quality portraits, do not rely on your camera’s built in flash. Instead you want to look at investing in a softbox to use for external lighting. If you can’t afford this, look into purchasing an external flash unit with a diffuser for your camera.
Make sure you have the right lighting before taking a photograph. Lighting is perhaps the most important factor in producing a good black and white photograph, because it affects the texture, contrast and shape of the image. Side lighting can produce some dramatic photographs as it creates shadows and highlights the edges of shapes.
If you can’t use a tripod while taking photos for some reason, you should always brace your upper body on a solid surface. Hold your breath if you can while taking the shot. This will minimize shake during the exposure, resulting in clearer pictures. A tripod is always best, however.
Only select the best shots that you have if you are planning on showing your pictures to someone. This will help them form the highest possible opinion of you and your work, which is desirable if you are trying to land a job. Always present your best work to others.
Remember that photography is a good activity to practice alone. Your friends might get impatient and rush you while you are composing your pictures. If you have friends who enjoy taking pictures, do not let their vision influence your own compositions. The social aspect of photography comes later when you can look at your pictures with your friends.
A good photography tip you should try is to to add an object to your photograph that will show the scale of another object. A big tree might not look that impressive by itself, but having a tiny person standing right next to it can make the tree look humongous.
It might seem like a beginner’s tip, but even pros forget that sometimes less is more. When dealing with any photo, don’t over-think things. A scattered jumble without a focal point doesn’t add to a picture. There is beauty in the art of simplicity, so keep your shots simple!
As stated in the beginning of this article, photography is a great way to bond with your children and build their self-esteem. Taking pictures together creates memories that will last for a life time. Apply the tips from this article to make the most of your next picture taking adventure with your children.
