Every mom wants to take better pictures of her kids. Photography is one of those things that everyone can improve on because there is so much to learn and master, but there are a few key things that you can buy or do that will make a big difference. Buy a DSLR and a good lens. Point and shoot cameras are convenient and for some types of photography (like landscapes) they are all you need. A marker of a good portrait, however, is pulling the focus to the subject through the creative use of depth of field. In simple terms, … Continue reading →

When was the last time you shot the same image vertically and horizontally? Most hobby photographers shoot in the moment. They point, shoot and let the image develop as it may not thinking about how a photo could look if the camera was held a different way. Most beginner photographers don’t realize that the way the camera is positioned can make a huge impact on the tone of the shot. The way you hold the camera, vertically (up and down) or horizontally (left to right) helps determine the way your subject is framed. Camera position also helps you get as … Continue reading →

My grandfather was a professional photographer. He worked extremely hard fine-tuning his craft and took great care to ensure that his clients were satisfied with their images. I remember how lovingly he spoke of his passion for photography and his decision to go pro. My grandfather was very talented and his desire to turn his passion into profit was one that didn’t come without challenges. However, he persevered and for decades he captured special moments in time that live in infamy. So, how does one know when it’s the right time to advance from shooting as a hobby to taking … Continue reading →

I got the biggest compliment at a shoot this past week. The family remarked, “wow, it’s nice that you know exactly where you want to take the photos already; this is going so fast!” We went from once location to the next without a hitch. There was no wandering around searching for the perfect light. The reason? I had scoped out the location 20 minutes before they arrived and I had already found the perfect spots. It’s easy to scope out your location when there is no pressure. When you spend just 15-20 minutes looking around on your own, without … Continue reading →

I use a DSLR camera, which I love for many reasons. I love how much I can customize the settings, compared to a point and shoot. I love throwing backgrounds into a pretty blur when I’m shooting portraits. Recently, I have delved into the world of shooting in RAW (instead of JPG) and I am really excited about what it has done for my photography. A RAW image is just what it sounds like: a raw photo. It has not been processed and compressed by the camera, as are JPG files. When you use a point and shoot digital camera, … Continue reading →

Ideally, all beginner shutterbugs should enroll in photography classes at local portrait studios, community centers or tech colleges. However, in this day and age you would be hard pressed to find many people with the time or money to do so. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your picture-taking skills without spending a fortune on classes or tutorials. The Internet is a great resource for aspiring photographers. Some notable sites offering helpful tips to photo newbies include: Kodak: The photo powerhouse provides a comprehensive resource for aspiring photographers. The site contains articles covering everything from how to photograph a newborn … Continue reading →