Creating Better Holiday Photos when you Don't Know your Shutter from your Aperture!

I recently enjoyed a post by Michael Thornton in which he gave some useful tips for creating better holiday photos. Like many shutterbugs, Michael shoots with a D-SLR. I personally love the quality of my photos from my Canon 50D.

But what if you're like most people, and just have a regular ol' point and shoot? Are you doomed to poor photos? Of course not!

Here are a few quick tips that anybody can apply to their photography and have pictures that live up to their memories of the moment.

1. Be prepared!

Kind of obvious, but before an important photo event (especially one that cannot be repeated), charge up the batteries . . . how about having extra batteries . . . re-format your memory card, and have all other bits of equipment at the ready in your camera bag (lens cleaner, anyone?).

2. Get Down

Why do we get in the rut of just taking pictures from where we happen to be? Most often, this is from a standing position. But when photographing kids and pets, taking the picture from way above creates a disconnect with the subject. Move your self to an angle that is flattering to your subject, bend your knees, get to eye level with your subject, zoom in, and then press the shutter! The results will be much more intimate and pleasing.

3. Move your Subject Off-center

Placing the subject of your photo dead center in the frame, is, well . . . kind of boring . . . static. Start to think about composition in a new way by moving your subject off-center and balancing it with other things in the environment.

But, to ensure that your point and shoot camera focuses and meters correctly, keep your subject in the center of the viewfinder while pressing the shutter only half way down. With your finger still lightly holding the shutter, move the camera slightly to the side and then release it. This will create a more dynamic composition.

Here's an extra tip on this point . . . most cameras can display a grid on the LCD screen that helps you compose your photos using the "rule of thirds". It is most often accessed by pressing the display button and cycling through the options, or in a menu related to display options.

4. Keep 'er Steady

Often holiday photography involves low-light conditions. The quickest way to ruin a great photo-op is to blur the picture with camera shake! It doesn't matter how many mega-pixels your camera has if you don't hold it steady. Instead of "free-handing" it, rest the camera on a piece of furniture . . . or what about that tripod collecting dust in the closet? If neither of these options are available, the least you can do is tuck your elbows in against your body, jam your camera up against your face if you have a view finder to look through, and snap the shutter after you have inhaled, but before you exhale.

5. Use fill flash . . . Outdoors!

Yes, especially on a bright sunny day! This seems really counter-intuitive, but in harsh lighting conditions, your subject will have really harsh (and dark) shadows, while other areas will be too bright. Bring balance to the lighting conditions by manually forcing your flash to come on. You may need to shoot in a "Program" mode (P mode) in order to be able to do this.

 

6. Make use of your Camera's Features!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. No matter what kind of camera you have, read the manual! You have the ability to choose from many built-in scene programs that will help the camera determine the best settings to choose. Among these settings is choosing the correct White Balance, helping the colors in your photos look more true. Learn it, know it, use it!

 

Lastly, the best way to ensure that you have great photos of your special events is to also take lots of them! Digital cameras make it so easy to take tons of pictures, and sort through them later. When in doubt, just click it!

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta