My husband, Richard Kraft, is awesome at photography. The smile gets me every time. Me, not so much. But I asked him to help me so I could take decent pictures for FaceBook and my blog.
I’ve included some of the pictures he’s taken in this post. His picture is to the left. Isn’t he handsome?
He was so helpful that now my pictures are in focus and don’t cut off people’s heads – at least most of the time. I’m even impressed by some of the pictures I’m taking. Even more important, I’m not embarrassed to post them.
I asked Rick if he would share some tips on my blog for those of us who are photographically challenged. Here’s the top 10 tips he came up with.
1. Get on the same level as your subject. Dogs, cats, birds, etc. are smaller than you. Be sure to get down with them for your best shot.
2. Get as close to your subject as possible.
3. Use the rule of thirds when composing your photograph. Your picture will be more interesting if your subject is at one of the 1/3 marks on your camera screen. Look online to see a more complete explanation.
4. Ensure your focus is sharp. You can check your focus if you enlarge a portion of the picture. Look at the eyes or other fine details.
5. Hold your camera still. Camera shakes when snapping the can ruin a beautiful picture.
6. Pay attention to the light and ensure you don’t have shadows across your subjects face. Light coming from behind your shoulder will ensure your subject is shadow free.
7. Try to capture your subjects when they aren’t aware of you. People, when they are unaware of the camera, provide some of the best shots.
8. Try to take your pictures with a solid background so your subject isn’t lost in it.
9 If your subject is backlit by the sun or other bright light, use your flash.
10. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You can always delete the shots that aren’t any good. And have fun!
So here’s one of my photos I took with Rick’s help. If I can take a picture like this, anyone can.
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