A Lesson in Photography

Here's a lesson for all you aspiring photographers wishing to capture your loved ones in their full glory. I've noticed some common mistakes (er, um . . . improvements), so I'm imparting my wisdom, whether you like it or not!

If you're trying to capture images of your children or other subjects, it is best to follow the cardinal rule that closer is better. DO NOT USE YOUR ZOOM FOR ANY REASON! Try taking pictures as close to your subject as possible. This has two primary purposes: (1) the light entering your shutter will match the light on your subject, and (2) you add drama by filling the entire frame with your subject's face. Try to avoid full body shots (unless you're capturing their cute clothes) - this only makes your subject look unflattering, and NEVER cut off your subject's chin. The general rule is that anything to the middle of brow that is missing is fine - people have a hard time trying to mentally replace a chin.

Here is one picture that shows the differences I'm talking about:

Before:

Notice the numerous distractions (forget the expressions) and how everyone (meaning the adults) looks like we're beached whales.

After Photoshop (cropping) - remember, this simple trick can be done IN the camera:

Notice that most of the distractions are gone. You're forced to look at the subjects in the picture, and not all the contemporaneous stuff going on elsewhere.

Also note that your mind fills in the missing gaps (i.e. the top of the cap, arms, hands, etc.).

If you follow this simple trick your pictures will be 100 times greater than they are now. Plus, you'll save a ton of time using Photoshop to fix other problems.