Well, it’s finally spring, which means photo labs all over New England will be experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of pictures of flowers and kids! We’re finally outside and it’s beautiful – who wouldn’t be taking pictures! If you’re tempted to take pictures of the lovely spring flowers, or if you are like me and have dozens of family events in the next few months, here are a few tips for getting great pictures of flowers and families.
1. Use “Macro-Mode” on your camera for flowers, buds, and anything small that you’ll want to photograph closely. Macro Mode is usually identified by the little flower logo on your camera and it will help make sure your pictures are sharp when you need to be very very close to a very small subject.
2. Cut out extra space. I see lots and lots of family photos where there is tons of background surrounding a few itty-bitty people. Who needs all that background? We want to see your family members’ beautiful faces, so shoot like a pro: get closer and cut out the unnecessary extra.
3. If you’re photographing people and it’s dark, use your flash. I think there’s a misconception floating around that the flash ruins pictures. It doesn’t – it actually lights your subjects properly! So don’t go all artsy on me and turn your flash off, especially if you’re inside or it’s dark. Without the flash your pictures will be way too dark and way too blurry. Don’t be afraid to use it!
4. If you use the “red-eye reduction” tool on your camera, be sure to let your subjects know how long the flash takes. Some cameras have a pre-flash, which helps reduce the red-eye effect, but if the people you’re photographing don’t know to expect a pre-flash, they may blink. And believe me; nothing ruins a picture faster than closed eyes. Just letting them know will cut out a lot of headaches, and help ensure great group photos.