Are there any tips or tricks to take professional looking pictures with a digital camera?

Question

Tomorrow is my friends birthday party and it's going to be outside around 6 o clock and I wanted to take professional looking pictures at it. I have a Canon Power Shot SD750 are there any tips anyone could give me to do this?

Answer 1

Try to avoid real busy pictures, they are annoying.



When shooting people, have them stand a good 10 feet away from the any background. Don't put up them against a wall of other structure. Don't have people hugging tree's either. keep an eye on what your taking a picture of, its not just the main thing but everything behind the subject as well. This is real important.



Watch out for poles coming out of the top of someones head or lines that chop a person in half and so on.



Don't use flash if you can help it, flash in inexperienced hands often looks like a deer in the headlights.



Don;'t look at the back of your camera after every shot, this is called chimping. The reason to not do this is, that while your looking at the back of the camera of the shot you just took, something you should be taking a picture of is usually happening.



Hold your camera real steady by holding it close to your body, if there was ever a guaranteed way to complety ruin a picture, its holding the camera at arms legth.



Have fun, fit in, and don't make the photography the only thing that is going on. people should be relaxed, take pictures of people while they are enjoying themesves, they shouldn't be standing there looking at the camera with big smiles on.



If you get a blinker, tell them you'll shoot on the count of three, but actually take it on the count of two, or make a click sound ( cheesey is ok) and then take it after they think you are all done.

Answer 2

Any fully adjustable camera can do that. What is important are you skills using those cameras From you question it is clear you have yet to learn some of the fundamentals of photography Why? Shooting professional photographs takes years of both education and experience. Shooting the dew on leaves will require a special lens. Those lenses are called macro lenses and usually cost more than an entry level dSLR. Shooting landscapes requires a wide angle lens, again they cost more than the camera You can start the process of learning how to use a fully adjustable camera by purchasing a Nikon D3200 or Canon 600D/T3i with the standard 18-55 mm lens that is included in their cost (under $700)

Answer 3

I'm afraid you don't have enough time before the party to learn to take professional looking pictures. However, you do have enough time to learn to avoid some obvious errors.



Since the party is outside, try to shoot in the same direction of the sunlight whenever possible. Its best to avoid shooting into the sun, unless you know how to shoot in manual mode. Checking your shadow on the ground is a good way to judge the sun direction.



Try to make sure the focus falls on the subject's face.



Try to watch your composition. Common beginner mistakes include cutting off heads, arms, etc.



Finally, practice holding your camera steadily when you shoot. Just like a rifle, inhale, partially exhale, then shoot.

Answer 4

Try not to pose people too much.

- Be patient. Capture the good shot, and wait for a great shot,

- Look for and capture expressions. Laughter, etc.

- Shoot the not-so-obvious... Sure, get the blowing out the candles shot, but just before, or immediately after, turn and get the crowd.

- Eliminate distracting/cluttered backgrounds. Just before you snap the shot, ask yourself, "How can I make this better?"

- Focus on the photography, not on having a good time.

- Pretend they are paying you $200/hour. Give it your all.

Answer 5

dunnow where you are, but ill assume the sum is going to be setting.. be aware of it, and dont trust the meter to be able to sort it out either... set your flash to ON.. not auto... its the lightning symbol.



this will help reduce shadows ... although if your right in their faces, itll flatten them.. the faces will be slighly overexposed, the wrinkles will dissapear and the girls willove you for it... but its not good...





try to keep out of the subjects eyeline until you want their attention. half press the shutter, and lock the exposure, then, grab their attention, and as soon as the turn and smile, snap... its preloaded, so no shutter lag as the camera hunts for focus.



i prefer to stand back, and shoot with a medium zoom, between 90 and 135 mm...it allows for goo dsepration between subject and background...



and keep watching... anyone can take a photo... its easy. buy a D90 and press a button... but thats only a start... you need to put your victims at ease, make them smile.. tell them it wont hurt, itll be all over in a flash... pardon teh pun... but you have to develop people skills... introduce yourself... hi, im taking photographs for BLAH... can i take you picture...would you mind?



people rarely mind if you ask...they smile and co operate... and they remember you... youre than funny bloke with the camera... and towards the end of the night, when everyones drunk...and the smootchy records are playing... you walk teh floor and shoot the couples... done properly it generates work like a snowstorm...



oh, take spare batteries, and as much menory as you have... and shoot in the highest resolution you can, RAW if you have it... then run every image thru an editor, i sugget you try Fastone Image Viewer... its simple easy ti use, and Free...



good luck...

Answer 6

Well, a few tips



Pay attention to the light



Hold the camera still or get a tripod. If you can't get a tripod, put the camera on tp of something that is very solid and not likely to move.



If you can adjust the white balance on that camera, try to find an appropriate setting for that light level.



Take some test shots first to figure out the general conditions.



Keep your back to the light.



Keep your friends relaxed



Hope that helps



http://cheapdslrprofessional.blogspot.com/

Answer 7

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