By Anne Violette
Have you ever gone to pick up your photos at the lab only to be discouraged or disappointed? Often the pictures we take are moments that can never be recaptured.
Many people don't know that pictures can be "tweaked" for better results. With digital taking precedence over film these days, it's easier than ever to get photos worthy of framing or storing in a family scrapbook.
Often photos just need optimization in Adobe Photoshop or a comparable photo restoration program. Color output can be adjusted. Fine lines can be erased. Disruptions to the scenery can be removed.
However, if you're not savvy with computer enhancements, what can you do to make your photographs better in the first place?
The answer is quite simple. Don't make these mistakes in the first place! Here are the top seven mistakes to avoid:
Mistake #1: Your subject is too far away
It may sound so simple, almost like a no-brainer! As a professional photographer, sometimes when I go out shooting, I see families on vacation taking pictures of each other in front of touristy buildings, water, or in front of attractions.
The picture-taker (I won't call them photographers quite yet) instructs the people to stand in front of the desired background and then backs up way too far. I think the reason for the distance is to ensure that the whole building or scene is captured.
Bring the subjects in closer!
Tell your subjects to walk towards you, almost to the point where they're filling the width of the screen on the camera. The scene will still be in the background where it belongs, but the people will be visible and will not look like small ants. Too often photos come back with missed details because the people were just too far away.
Mistake #2: Over-posing
Sometimes the best images are those that are unplanned, capturing natural facial expressions, laughter and spontaneous moments.
If all of your images seem contrived, try getting your camera out at a time when people aren't expecting you to snap the shutter. The results may amaze you.
Instead of fake smiles and uncomfortable posture, your family and friends will look naturally beautiful as you see them in real life. Life is not posed and all of your pictures don't have to be, either.
One additional tip is to shoot through a telephoto lens from a distance. Although there are some technical issues here, the benefit is your subjects are often not nearly as aware that they're being photographed and they behave more naturally.
Mistake #3: Ugly distractions
Have you ever gotten your pictures back only to discover unsightly distractions that detract from the main subject like telephone poles sticking out of people's heads or trash cans next to the new car? Or perhaps you've got someone walking by in the background or an ugly branch lying right next to the photo of your precious pooch?
Pay attention to your surroundings.
Wait 10 seconds for the stranger to walk by in the background. If you see a tree, sign or telephone pole sticking out of your people's heads through the lens, it will look even worse in the final picture.
Look at other details. Is your girlfriend's necklace turned upside down or is your child looking up at the sky while everyone else is focused on the camera? If there is an object that is a permanent, non-moveable item, then adjust your subject away from it or hide the object with your composition.
Don't be afraid to move or try different perspectives. People or objects do not always have to be in the center of the picture. Try shooting with your subjects off to one side or the other. It may generate interest; especially if you combine this with trick #1, moving them closer.
Mistake #4: Not using fill flash outside
More people ask me why I'm using flash outside on a bright sunny day than any other question when I'm shooting. People are surprisingly trained that bright sunshine means no need for flash. NOT TRUE!
Experiment with using and not using a flash outside. Flash offsets dramatic shadows and makes the whites of eyes stand out. Subtle fill-flash is best, not harsh flashing such as would be used inside or at night.
The only way that fill-flash is not appropriate is with intentional natural light photos, which take a special talent and slightly longer exposure to achieve. Fill flash should always be used in every other circumstance whether it's sunny, cloudy or in a bright, well-lit room. Your photos may still turn out okay if you don't use it, but they won't look as good as they could.
Mistake #5: Making everything horizontal
It seems that most amateur photographers always put the subject smack dab in the center of the picture. How boring and predictable.
Try this. On a cloudy day, your colors will be more vibrant if you crop out most of the sky while shooting. Position your subjects in the top half of the frame. The grass or foreground can be more prominent. Colors will "pop" instead of being dull and lifeless. Just angle the camera up and towards the subject, instead of dead-on as you normally do.
In another setting, such as a bright and sunny day with pretty clouds, get low and capture more of the sky. Put your subjects prominently in the lower part of the frame, cropping out more of the ground. This will also help to relieve glare from the sun.
Mistake #6: Positioning subjects in precarious positions
Speaking of the sun, how often do you pose individuals to either be directly in or beside the sun, making them squint and struggle to look at the lens?
It's okay to shoot at a window or sun if you're shooting into it. For the sun, use fill-flash. For a window, either point the flash up or don't use it at all because the reflection will bounce back and be evident in your final image.
Mirrors are easy to achieve if you know the trick. A pivoting flash pointed to the ceiling is the ideal answer. If you don't have such a fancy flash, simply turn off the flash completely and shoot in natural light. Hold the camera steady. Focus on the mirror, not the subject. The reflection will be the prominent focal point of the picture but the subject will be detailed with facial expressions revealed in the mirror. This is an effortless trick once you try it a couple of times.
Mistake #7: Not taking enough pictures
Professional photographers take 300-500+ pictures at weddings or special events. While I'm not suggesting you should run around and take more pictures than the pros, it's funny how few images people really take.
It's easy to delete the bad ones. Digital equals instant gratification, but it's still smart to take at least a handful of similar shots when you have the opportunity to do so. Because the screen is so small, you may not be able to tell right away if someone is blinking or has a bad expression. Backup your great shots with extras that are similar.
Photographers know that if they take ten pictures of the same thing, at least a couple of them will be good enough to give the clients. It's always better to have way too many than not nearly enough.
Final thoughts
Take a look at Figure A, where I've applied many of the techniques discussed. Move subjects closer to the lens. Place them slightly off-center to create interest. Your background will still be in focus. Don't be afraid to crop out more of the sky or ground as needed. In this photo, most of the sky is not seen, bringing all attention to the people. Using fill flash will even skin tones, highlight the whites of eyes and will decrease shadows.
FIGURE A
This photo uses many of the elements discussed. Photo by Anne Violette. (click for larger image)
Even with all these tweaks, this picture has one flaw, which is that the woman's hair has blown across her upper lip, almost giving her a mustache effect. This is why you want to take a pile of pictures. The very next one, framed the same way, might not have the wind blowing quite as much, and the picture could turn out completely differently.
Of course there is an exception to every rule. Understanding mistakes is only a small tip of the iceberg in becoming a really good photographer.
If you're still shooting film, choosing an acceptable lab for developing is imperative. The lab doesn't necessarily have to be expensive if the technician who operates the machine is skilled at fixing imperfections, such as skin tone, color adjustments or consistency.
All of the labs have comparable machinery and paper quality. If the staff is poorly trained or gets too much walk-in traffic, they become lazy about corrections. A good lab technician will look at skin color imperfections and adjust the machine to maximize the output of the images. If the overall color is too red, blue or green, it could be an easy correction without fancy computer software needed. People often don't realize what is possible and blame themselves for the poor end result.
Practice these tips and composition. Your photos will look so much better.