Photo Tips

Creating dynamic photos ...

Angles

• Take several shots from different angles, close and wide so you can choose the better ones later.
• Take mostly horizontal shots and a few vertical shots.
• Use a non-distracting background so your subject stands out.

Lighting

• Use a flash indoors to get the best lighting. If your flash allows, point it towards the ceiling. It will create a more natural-looking light.
  
• Know the range of your flash so that it works to enhance your photos.
• Watch where the natural light is coming from and use it to your advantage.
• Avoid people squinting into the sun. Slightly overcast days, early mornings or late afternoons outdoors are actually better than a blazing midday sun. If you must photograph people in midday, have them stand in a shady area. Try to position them so that the background also is shaded. 
  

Staging

• Mix it up! You want your pictures to tell a story. Limit your pictures of people posing.
• Direct people in photos — ask them to move closer, stand up straight, smile, relax, etc.
• Position your subject(s) to look at the camera for more personal photos.
• Offset small groups from the center to create more visually interesting photos.
• When nothing seems interesting, shoot wide with something in the foreground.