Top Ten Photo Tips

www.kodak.com

1. Get down on their level

• Hold your camera at the subject’s eye level to capture the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles

• For kids and pets that means getting down on their level to take the picture

• They don’t have to look directly into the camera, the eye level angle by itself will create a personal and inviting feeling

2. Use a plain background

• Before taking a picture, check the area behind your subject

• Lookout for trees or poles sprouting from your subject’s head

• A cluttered background will be distracting while a plain background will emphasize your subject

3. Use your flash outdoors

• Even outdoors, use the fill flash setting on the camera to improve your pictures

• Use it in bright sunlight to lighten dark shadows under the eyes and nose, especially when the sun is directly overhead or behind your subject

• Use it on cloudy days, to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background

4. Move in close

• To create impactful pictures, move in close and fill your picture with the subject

• Move a few steps closer or zoom until the subject fills the viewfinder. You will eliminate background distractions and show off the details in your subject

• For small objects, use the camera’s macro or “flower” mode to get sharp close-ups

5. Take some vertical pictures

• Many subjects look better in a vertical picture – from the Eiffel Tower to portraits of your friends

• Make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways and take some vertical pictures

6. Lock the focus

• Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of off-center subjects

1. Center the subject

2. Press the shutter button halfway down

3. Re-frame your picture (while still holding the shutter down)

4. Finish by pressing the shutter all the way

7. Move it from the middle

• Bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off-center

• Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder. Now place your subject at one of the intersections of lines

• Since most cameras focus on whatever’s in the middle, remember to lock the focus on your subject before re-framing the shot

8. Know your flash’s range

• Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark

• For many cameras that’s only ten feet – about four steps away. Check your manual for sure

• If the subject is further than ten feet from the camera, the picture may be too dark

9. Watch the light

• Great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of light in your pictures

• For people pictures, choose the soft lighting of cloudy days. Avoid overhead sunlight that casts harsh shadows across the face.

• For scenic pictures, use the long shadows and color of early and late daylight

10. Be a picture director

• Take an extra minute and become a picture director, not just a passive picture-taker

• Add some props , rearrange your subjects, or try a different viewpoint

• Bring your subjects together and let their personalities shine. Then watch your pictures dramatically improve