Tips For Taking Better Photographs

Holiday Feature

DENTON — Whether film or digital, shutterbugs will be shooting thousands of photographs this holiday season. Some will be using cameras they’ve had for years and others will be using new cameras received as a gift.

Regardless of his or her experience behind the camera, every photographer wants to take the best photograph possible. Instructors with the Texas Woman’s University Department of Visual Arts, which offers degrees in fine art photography, offered some tips on taking better photos.

• First, slow down. Take time to arrange your photo and examine every aspect of what’s in the viewfinder. Look for telephone poles, tree branches and other objects poking out of people’s heads and rearrange the shot to eliminate those objects.

• Second, fill the frame with your subject. You’re taking a photo of that person or object for a reason. Don’t let her or it get lost in the photo by taking the shot from too far away. Placing the person or object larger in the photo also gives the viewer something to focus on.

• Third, if people you’re going to photograph look uncomfortable, make small talk with them to get them to relax and feel more comfortable. Also, if you’re uncomfortable and tense it will show in your subject. If you’re at ease, your subject will relax and photograph better.

• Fourth, keep the light to your back. If the light is behind your subject, you’re going to get a silhouette effect. The best time to shoot photos of people outdoors is during the morning or evening light to avoid deep shadows under the eyes. However, you also can use your flash outdoors to fill in shadows.

• Fifth, shoot more than one frame of your subject. Taking more than one frame allows you to get slightly different expressions on a person’s face and helps ensure that his or her eyes aren’t closed in every photo. It also gives you several shots to choose from for you photo album.

• Sixth, have fun and enjoy using your camera. When you feel comfortable with the camera, experiment with different lighting, backgrounds and settings.

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu