Help me help you: Tell me about your picture-taking troubles!
When I posted about the MyPublisher photo books, several of you contacted me, wondering how to take better photos.
Since that's not exactly in line with my blog's theme (and since there are many great photography blogs written by people more skilled than me with a camera!), I checked with you all on Facebook the other day just to see if there was broader interest in this.
And you (at least those of you who are on my Facebook page!) said yes.
So, I'm going to put together a post (postS? a series? Not sure yet.) with some pointers and ideas that will hopefully be simple and helpful.
But!
To make sure that this is indeed useful for you, I'd like to ask where you most want help.
For instance...
Are you not sure what to take pictures of?
Are you not sure what angles are best?
Do you feel like your pictures are just boring?
Are your pictures too bright/too dark?
Do you have trouble catching moving kids on camera?
Do you struggle with blur?
Or do you have difficulty with something not on this list?
Let me know!
Your feedback will help me get a better idea of what to write about.
my issues are lighting situations (florescent lights with yellow walls and no access to natural light, and not knowing what settings my camera should be at for various situations. :)I'm on a DSLR and not a point and shoot. Btw, any instances in which you prefer a point and shoot?
I can't wait to hear the suggestions for this, I have the same issues
That's so nice of you to offer your help! I would be interested to know what type of camera you use and what settings for different types of pictures (i.e. indoor, bright sun, action). Also, if you Photoshop your pictures, what are some good rules of thumb for getting the pictures to look better but still natural (i.e. saturation, exposure, levels). Thank you!
You might want to check out the FAQ heading across the top of the blog. Question No. 2 is about the cameras and lenses and some other tips are further down...
Thanks for the heads up, Ingrid!
Will be waiting excitedly. All of the above and maybe a little editing help. Help for those of us with simpler cameras. Thank you, thank you!
Every time you publish pictures of your family, I'm reminded of how much I enjoyed your 365 (+) project. Your talent was so apparent then, but these new photos are an order of magnitude lovelier. Methinks the money invested in new equipment and diligent practice have really paid off. Perhaps it's like playing the piano?
No photo questions, just a big, fat compliment today.
No new equipment since that project, sadly (I really, really want a 35mm lens!). Thank you for the kind words!
Tips for organizing and filing them, mine are a mess and I have never found a way to organize them..by date, then I can't find what I need, by subject..I have better luck there. What to keep, I have thousands and what do you use to organize them in..any program suggestions.
My son just bought a Canon Rebel and was so excited about it!
Yes to all of your questions! I second Deb's and LoriB's comments also! I don't have a lot of money to invest in an awesome camera but I do have a nice little point and shoot! I know your son has taken lots of wonderful pictures with his point and shoot. How does he do it!?!?!?! I hate that so many of pictures are just crummy and don't capture the day!
Oh the curse of the blurry picture.... ah!
I need help understanding how to/when to use certain settings on my camera. I struggle with taking good photos when I have an awesome camera. It's intimidating! And all the blogs out there have way too much information which makes me feel overwhelmed. Also.. how much do you edit your photos? I have Photoshop but I don't want to spend hours editing photos.
I struggle with focus and lighting. I think the two are very related - not enough light, hard to focus - but I hate using my flash. or if there is a way to use the flash and set the camera so everyone doesn't look completely washed out. I would like to have more pictures that come out decent straight out of the camera than having to spend hours editing everything everytime. No time for that! 🙂
Pictures that aren't posed, usually of kids. I never get exactly the right moment. They seem to stop being cute when they see the fumbling with the camera. Any tricks here?
I laughed at your placement of the word "But" under that so delicious photo of babies' posteriors.
Ok, that is funny. Totally didn't notice it. Butt you are right. 😉
Here is a blog that a dear friend of mine does. She is an awesome photographer and has a very special family. http://www.writeyouonmyheart.com/
What kind of editing software you prefer to use?
Lighting! As a fellow blogger, I can't seem to take decent pictures of good to save my life.
How do you manage to take the in the moment photos? Do you regularly carry your camera?
I think one thing most photographers will tell you to take lots and lots of pictures. Always have a camera around, even if it's just your phone. You'll often find that one really awesome picture hidden in a bunch of not so good ones. If you're not a professional photographer, the law of probability is your friend 🙂 .
Well if you're asking.. This is way below your level of pictures, so maybe not really in your line of work, but - Do you have any tips to help me take better pictures with the camera on my (not top-of-the-line) phone? I have come to realize - that is what I have with me when life happens (and we don't have a nice separate camera anyway). I know I won't get the same raindrop-freezing cool pictures you take, but just any thoughts on using what I have to improve the pictures I take! (One specific thing I notice - the colors in my pictures often look dim to me; also the shutter speed is slow, so it's hard to time the pic.) Thanks! : )
One thing I recommend is setting your smartphone to automatically back up your photos to Google+. Google had some really cool magic going on behind the scenes that will automatically enhance your photos.
Other cool features include an auto awesome movie that is stitched together using images and videos taken around the same time. Also there's the auto story feature that creates a story book of your images and videos taken over a few days. Both of these can be edited and customized to make them even more special.
Numbers 1,2,& 3 would help me most.
I definitely struggle with blur and capturing kids on the run. Angles are a challenge too as I don't want the same picture all the time, but when I try to use different angles they don't always work out. And lighting would be helpful too... lol. I guess a little bit of everything you mentioned.
I need help with backgrounds. There are times when I want to take a posed picture of my kids and can't find a place to take them. A blank wall in my house looks like a prison shot. When we are outside there always seems to be a car/house/shed no matter what way we turn. How do you take nice pictures that don't look junky in the background? Thank you!
Yes! I totally have this problem!
I do have some sharpness issues, and boring pictures. Mostly though, I feel like a lot of the photography advice I see assumes I have a DSLR. I get that, because people who really care about photography use those, but I don't have one. So if you have any thoughts for those of us living in basic-digital-camera-land, that would be super helpful and much appreciated.
My pictures are boring, and I'm not very good at lighting/angles. Would love suggestions of 1) how to incorporate people into landscape shots, and 2) how to take less-boring photos. Editing/organizing suggestions are also appreciated! Really glad you're doing this! I'm a very amateur photographer but would like to get better!
Thanks for your replies, you guys! This is super helpful for me.
Keep 'em coming!
Kristen, your timing is phenom! I am working on our family reunion photo book and am completely appalled at what I have to work with!! 8 adults all with "smart" phones = 1400 pictures (actual number!) and maybe 20 that are actually acceptable! I know you've enjoyed having the phone for quick pictures, any tips on how to make the most of the tool at hand? And for those that want to move past the limitations of the phonce camera, any tips there? Thank you!!
All of the above, plus ... I have a higher-end point-and-shoot and I don't really want a DLSR, BUT I would like to take the best pictures I can with my current camera. I do have some manual settings but don't know how to use them--a "point-and-shoot-picture-guide-for-dummies" would be helpful. 🙂
Yes to all, and perhaps some editing tips.
I'd recommend adding a piece encouraging point and shoot users not to compare themselves with SLR users. We went SLR about a 1.5 years ago and pictures went from blah to astounding. I had no idea what I was missing out on for 37 years!
All of the answers are yes. I need help with it all!!
I'd like tips for people with an ordinary camera, or even just a camera on their phone. I know those won't take as good of pictures as an expensive camera, but any tips that apply to even snapping a picture with your phone. Thanks!
I have a hard time getting the right thing into focus. I feel like good pictures have one thing in focus, and the background is a little out of focus, which makes the pictures more professional-looking.
When I switched to digital I bought a Canon Rebel because I didn't want to be disappointed with the results with a point & shoot and then end up upgrading to dSLR anyway
What angle to shoot from is a big one for me. I usually take a picture from every which way and then just choose my favorite but I haven't discovered what makes me prefer one over the other.
I'd like to use manual settings, In theory I understand getting a balance of shutter speed & light but in reality I just fall back on that little green square.
Several people have tried to help me with it but as soon as I'm on my own I can't remember what I was taught.
I take photos for foods classes that I teach. There is no natural light, just fluorescent. I'd like to know how to take better photos without natural light. I blog at http://cougarkitchen.wordpress.com
I'd love your ideas!
Unless I get lucky, my photos are pretty boring. Is there better angles/lenses that could help?
1. Any hints you have for taking better pix with one's smartphone. I find myself doing that a lot because that's what I have with me. (Also it has much faster shutter speed than my point-and-shoot, which matters on aikido testing days.)
2. Time! I have trouble finding time to organize the pix I have.
I definitely have trouble with trying to photograph my son since he's basically a tornado. The camera tends to autofocus on the background, since it's not moving, and he's a giant flesh colored blur.
I feel like my pictures tend to be boring too. Maybe because the subject tends to be smack dab in the middle of the picture in all of them? Some tips on spicing things up would be very welcome. 🙂
I have a point and shoot, and I don't currently take enough photos to warrant a DSLR. All of the questions you mentioned would be interesting, but making my photos more interesting is definitely a struggle for me. In the last year, my husband and I have visited Europe twice. We like to go to museums and walk around cities to see interesting buildings. Then I get home and realize I have a lot of pictures of random buildings (that I often can't even remember) or museum exhibits and not enough pictures that even have us in them. I'd like to make my "everyday" type pictures better and more interesting as well.