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Top 10 Tips for Outdoor Photographs
April 2009
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Take Better Photographs Today!
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Dear :
Hello! It's now officially spring and with that comes lots of outdoor activities. I trust you will find the tips below helpful for photographing outdoors.
Lots going on with Dawn Michelle Photography lately! Once again, I've rented the Cotton Mill for the month of April. In addition, on Saturday, April 25, I am offering 30-minute mini-sessions all day. If you've wondered about the Cotton Mill in McKinney, this is a great opportunity to try it out at a reduced rate! There are a limited number of appointments, so please book early by e-mailing me.
I am joining the on-line advertising world and am advertising on www.MomsOutLoud.com. Several of you have already written great reviews about my business on that site. Thank you for doing that! I have decided to start posting my coupons on that website because it's very easy for me to update. Please take a look.
Have a great month!
Dawn Attebery
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Top Ten Tips for Outdoor Photography
Are you one of those people who carries a camera wherever you go so you can be sure to capture every moment as your child discovers the world?
Are you the designated family photographer?
After being cooped up through the winter and the rain, now is the time a lot of families take their kids out to the zoo, the park, and the Dallas Arboretum. If you'd like to capture these moments for your photo album or scrapbook, let me give you some tips on how to improve your outdoor photographs:
- Avoid using on-camera flash if at all possible. Built-in flash is very harsh lighting and does not look natural. To soften the light from your on-camera flash, tape a little piece of a coffee filter on it. Experiment with this at home first. It will decrease your flash output a bit so your pictures may end up underexposed. Worth a try, though!
- Use the good light. This one is very important. Early in the day (about an hour after sunrise) or late in the afternoon
 (about an hour before sunset) is the best light of the day. And, let me tell you, it is worth the wait. We photographers call these the "golden hours" for a reason. I'm talking about that sweet light that just takes your breath away.
- If you must photograph during midday, photograph in the open shade where a little light is coming through but not enough to make the harsh shadows or the squinting eyes.
Open shade is at the edge of the shade, farthest from the shading structure (tree, building, etc.) but out of direct light. Midday light through leaves can lead to splotchiness so be careful.
Another option is to use a diffused flash (your coffee filter again) in the shade. Again, experiment and see what happens. Yet another idea is to use a piece of white posterboard to bounce some light in your subject's face. You will be able to see if you have it right by moving the posterboard around.
- Get closer to or zoom in on your subject. No need for all the extra stuff that does not contribute to the subject.
- Use good photo editing software.
Photoshop Elements is excellent and much cheaper than full-up Photoshop.
- Please, oh, please, don't ask your child to say "cheese". Go to the mirror right now and say "cheese". I would rather have just about anything than a cheese-like grimace. Ask yourself if your subject smiles much. Some people don't and that's OK! They may look more like themselves without a smile.
- Check for "mergers". Mergers are things that appear to be colliding with your subject. For example, you don't want a tree growing out of your daughter's head.
- Focus and re-compose. Lock the focus on the subject's eyes and move the composition around to get the eyes out of direct center. On most cameras, locking the focus involves holding the shutter button down half-way. Don't move the camera forward or back, but you can move it around, horizontally and vertically. The most pleasing compositions have the subject off-center.
- Take lots of shots of the same thing. With digital, this one is easier than ever because it costs only memory, which is cheap. And while I'm at it, be sure to have plenty of memory cards available.
- Finally, don't forget to be part of the moment. Yes, you may want a picture but that camera sometimes gets in the way of real interaction. Your child will be this age and at this stage only once. Enjoy it!
I hope this helps!
Dawn
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