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It's the end of the year and never too late to learn something new or review what we know.  Whether you use a Point & Shoot or an SLR camera, pull it out, keep it handy and have fun with 10 of our favorite tips for shooting at family gatherings or holiday parties!  They'll make your images look like a pro, with just a little practice and without making a nuisance of yourself! 

• Get Down.  This is a very powerful tool, and is #1 on our list for the holidays.  The most effective photographs are created at eye level of your subject, whether it's a bird, a wild animal, a pet or a child!  For children, this means stooping, sitting or crawling at their level.  Shooting from eye level will create a personal and inviting feeling that pulls the viewer into the picture.  You'll be glad you did this.

• Simplify.  Simple compositions work best.  Clutter is distracting.  Remain aware of what you are shooting and try to include just an isolated, uncluttered portion of the scene along with your subject. 

• Move in Close - Fill the Frame.   By filling the frame, you will create bolder pictures, not cluttered with unwanted detail, especially in the background.  Your goal is to fill the frame with your subject.  Get close to your subject;  you will reveal details like freckles and dimples.

• Use Flash Outdoors.  We've discussed this in past newsletters, but still - Remember to do it!  When you are photographing people on a sunny day, if you use flash, facial shadows will be minimized and both the background and your subject will be properly exposed (see example). Detailed explanation can be found in the newsletter "It's not about the Rapids".

• Place your subject off-center.   Placing your subject off-center in the frame makes the composition more dynamic and interesting.   Even if your subject fills the frame, the most important part of the image (for example, the eyes of a child) should not be dead center.  Do  not try to place your subject in the middle of the frame.

• Get comfortable.  Holiday photography is all about capturing the personality of your family and friends.  Let people relax; photograph them in their natural setting.  Candid shots can make the best images.  If you have people pose, position them naturally, not in a contrived manner. 

• Interact with children.  Don't have a child pose in front of the camera.  Rather, have someone play with them and then shoot candidly, or work with the child directly.  Ask the child to show you their favorite toy and when they raise their hands with the toy, shoot.  Be patient.  Go with the child's moods.  Be patient!  That great shot will come!

• Merging.  Watch for unwanted objects intruding on, or merging into, your subject.  Your can make corrections very easily, either by moving yourself a step or two, or having your subject move over a little bit.  We're talking about those annoying trees, signs, people, etc. in the background that look like they're part of, or growing out of, your subject's head or body.

• Shoot vertical.   In the heat of battle, people sometimes forget that their camera can take pictures vertically.  So, consciously remember to turn the camera sideways every so often and shoot vertical images.  Some scenes scream out to be shot vertically.  Watch for them!

•  Use the camera's monitor.   I've seen too many people shoot without previewing the scene in the monitor.  The chances are you will not get the results you wanted.  Take that extra second or two and preview the monitor to make sure you're shooting what you want.

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