| 1. Move closer to your subject. Nothing kills a photo | | | | moving a foot or so to the left or right? Look at the |
| quicker than a distracting background. If you have a | | | | entire frame you are about to capture, not just the |
| great background try bringing the subject closer to | | | | one main element you are focusing on. Sure you can |
| the camera so they don't get lost. Remember this tip | | | | fix it in Photoshop but it is better to capture it the |
| if nothing else. | | | | way you want to see it. |
| 2. Take lots of pictures. Digital photography is cheap | | | | Move closer to your subject. |
| and it is good! It is okay to shoot multiple photos | | | | 7. Study Pictures. Pictures you like. Cut them out of |
| with only slight variations...keep and share your best | | | | your favorite magazines or newspapers. Keep a file |
| photos. Also you don't need an expensive camera; I | | | | on your desk and just take a moment to look at |
| have photos from all over the world hanging on my | | | | them and tell yourself what you like about them. |
| walls that were taken with a $300 point and shoot. | | | | Bookmark web sites that have photos you like. Go |
| Move closer to your subject. | | | | to them often. Develop your eye. |
| 3. Get creative. It doesn't take much to enhance a | | | | 8. Learn to take a little criticism. All photographers |
| photo. Pictures taken from 5 ½' above the | | | | love their own photos. You put your heart and soul |
| ground can look repetitious. Think about changing the | | | | into them. You want to show them off. They are |
| perspective - get down on one knee or on your | | | | pictures of your kids, taken with the camera you |
| stomach if possible. Stand on a chair. Experiment with | | | | always wanted and just bought. How can people not |
| different lenses if you have them. Experiment with | | | | love them? Remember art is subjective. Not |
| composition. | | | | everybody is your mom. |
| Move closer to your subject. | | | | Move closer to your subject. |
| 4. Rent equipment. Professional camera stores are | | | | 9. Get your pictures published. Local newspapers |
| not just for professionals. They have rental | | | | have photography contests, generally centered on a |
| departments where anyone can pick up an exotic | | | | theme: children, pets, travel. If you are in the right |
| lens for a day or more. Many that can be used on | | | | place at the right time, CNN might be interested. |
| non-professional cameras. These rental departments | | | | Don't forget about the internet. There are always |
| are manned by people with lots of photo knowledge | | | | photo contests you can enter online. Publish your |
| and people are generally more than happy to "talk | | | | own website. There are plenty of free sites that will |
| photography" if not too busy at the moment. Don't | | | | allow you to build a web site using your photos. They |
| be shy. | | | | are a great way to share our art and these days |
| Move closer to our subject. | | | | you don't need a degree from MIT to do it. |
| 5. Use the camera's flash. Especially outside. Your | | | | Move closer to your subject. |
| eyes can look at a person in front of a sunset and | | | | 10. Learn from your mistakes. But don't be afraid to |
| see their smile but your camera can't. It is either | | | | break rules. Photography is fun and creative. Nobody |
| going to record the colors of the sunset and your | | | | is going to die if your snapshots are a little off or |
| subject will be a silhouette or your subject will be | | | | weird. What might not work one day may be a |
| visible and the background will be overexposed. Be | | | | stroke of genius the next. |
| conscious of shadows on people's faces - again utilize | | | | And one last time, move closer to your subject. |
| your flash. If your subject is looking into the sun they | | | | For the amateur photographer, these are ten easy, |
| are squinting - turn them away from the sun and fill | | | | non-technical tips to help you improve the quality of |
| shadows with flash. | | | | your photos. While there are many technical aspects |
| Move closer to your subject. | | | | of photography, great pictures usually begin with a |
| 6. Think of your camera like a painter's canvas. Be | | | | confident photographer who has learned to master |
| the artist. Is there a garbage can or other unwanted | | | | composition before worrying about F-Stops. |
| item in the frame that can be eliminated by simply | | | | |