10 Tips: Useful tips for taking all round better photos (much easier said than done)
By Josie Kemp
7 Aug 2009
Several people have told me several things that I rarely use but know I should! These are a series of photos I took during a testing session for the doctors and nurses in training. These are old photos and they aren't all strong photos but when I came across them in some old files it got me to thinking about how much better I should be!
Here are some tips passed on to me, by photographers I can only hope to imitate.
1. Fill your frame.
- Decide what you do and do not want in your photograph, and don't be afraid to get in there!
2. Control your background.
- Maybe by getting a higher view point, or even a much lower one you can eliminate a distracting background.
3. Wait for the moment!
- "The moment" is that expression or action that makes your photo.
4. Layer you photos.
- Think about each item in your photo as a layer, then when you compress all these different photos or layers together, how many layers does your one photo have? Sometimes it's the little things up front or way in back that really tell your story.
5. Capture not only the action-but also the reaction.
- Of course you want the money shot when something big goes down but try to incorporate some of the onlooker's reactions in there also. Sometimes the horrified old lady watching is just as good as the sloppy waiter dropping spaghetti on everyone.
6. The Unusual.
- Someone told me once that it's important to try and shoot even the most basic/boring situations in way that no one has ever seen before! Every time you walk on the scene try to find the angles that even you have never thought of before-we're all digital now-who cares if it doesn't work- just keep trying. You're not wasting anything! Get dirty, climb trees, jump if your subject is jumping-these will all be unusual shots!
7. The camera tilt.
- Don't be afraid to shoot that diagonal shot-in moderation it's really fun to look at! But be warned! I've been slapped on the wrist a few times for overusing the fun diagonal...but I can't help it, it is just more fun!
8. Shoot everything, all the way around, at all lengths!
- Every good photo shoot has shots from all four corners facing the subject. Start wide and just do a 360 around your subject, all long/wide shots. Then do the same with mediums, then close ups. Once you've completely covered all your angles, start getting those detail shots. A mechanic's hands working can show character just the same way as the oil on his face.
9. "Be a fly on the wall."
- After number 8 you must be thinking-well its possible not to be noticed when I go spinning around my subject like some kind of tornado. Ok, yeah maybe you will be noticed but try not to disrupt the natural order of things-if you have to get
involved, to force out that emotion that your subject is for reason hiding from you, go ahead but try to limit your involvement to just talking to them. Try not to go moving things around, or it will go from capturing life to creating life.
10. Even when you tired-keep shooting!
- Maybe you're way past the creative point, and venturing into zombie land, just keep shooting. Keep your camera ready from the time you get there till the time you leave...so much happens during set up and tear down.
I know this all seems pretty basic but it's certainly not things I thought up on my own. It wasn't till someone much better than me sat down with me and started looking at my work-that's when I really started learning. A Handful of people have passed these tips on to me and they've really helped me, hopefully they'll be helpful to you as well.
2 responses
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Nicole Roberts said (8 Aug 2009):
Memories of good ol' Combat Camera Advice...LOL...your gonna fit in there just FINE :) Love your story xoxoxo
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kathleen farnady said (1 Nov 2009):
Well done and helpful. I love how your tips are short and to the point. Thanks!
