1. Bounce Flash.
All DSLR cameras and many point and shoot cameras offer a hot shoe, which is a little metal piece on top of your camera for mounting an external flash. When selecting your flash it is important to get one that will tilt upwards, or bounce. This allows you to shoot the flash up at the ceiling and the light will fall softly on your subject, instead of casting a harsh shadow behind them. The lighting in your pictures will also seem less “fake” and will look more natural.
2. Get Closer.
Many photographers are afraid of getting too close because they don’t want to chop off their subject matter. Most shots though would benefit from a closer perspective as it offers a few advantages. It eliminates ugly background clutter from your shots and allows the viewer to focus on the main part of the image. If you are shooting at a low aperture, like 2.8 or 4, getting closer either with your feet or zooming will blur the background for you and make your subject pop. By shooting at a wider angle you are leaving more of your background in focus, which is confusing to the eye.
3. Use A Reflector.
The most important part of your picture is the light you provide. The easiest and most inexpensive way to provide good light is through a reflector. They can be used both indoors with flash or studio lighting and outdoors with sunlight. Most companies make reflectors with multiple surfaces to meet a variety of conditions. We use a reflector like this, Westcott 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector
4. Pick Your Background.
Every time you take a picture of something your are shooting what is in the foreground, your subject, and your background, whatever is behind your subject. In your final prints the background is more important than you may think. Take extra time to make sure there is nothing distracting and that your background is pleasing to the eye.
Good info! Keep it coming!
Allie-I love it! Great job, great pics and layout! Thanks!
P. S. Try the Red, Black, and White series by Dekker. I have read almost all of his books. I love Christian Fiction and he is at the top of my list.