Most of us have a pretty nice camera by 2013–whether it’s on our smart phone or a DSLR. It’s easy to snap a lot of pictures, the real challenge is to get a great photo that makes it past facebook and into your home decor! I am by no means a professional photographer, but here are some tricks my photography friends have shared with me that I have found helpful!
1- Framing the Shot
There are a lot of great tips online to help you prep your camera for that perfect shot, but the most basic thing to look at is the rule of thirds. A general rule of photography is to divide your photo into three sections vertically and horizontally. Just like this:
Most cameras will have a setting that puts this lines in your viewfinder. Anywhere that these lines cross is a visually appealing place to have your focus (what your shot features). Of course, the rule of thirds can be broken, but you need to know the rules to break them! Here are a few examples from pinterest:
2- Flash Photography
Flash is overrated. Have you ever painted with water colours? You get so excited to use such vibrant colours, but once you start painting you realize the colours all show up really transparent? That’s what flash does. It washes everything out. Your skin looks paler and your environment looks harsher. Sometimes when your camera isn’t all that great, flash can be a lifesaver, but if there is any other way to light the shot–use it! Always try taking a picture without flash to see if there is hope. If you have an SLR, turn your aperature to a lower setting. This will let more light into your lens. For more info on aperture settings check out this site! If you must use flash, try putting a business card at a 45 degree angle over your flash. This is will direct the light above your subject and help keep them vibrant!
Here are two examples of the difference flash makes on quick, automatic shots in a dimly lit room:
With Flash:
Without flash! No squinty eyes and warmer hues!
Much more Christmas-like without flash!
3- Printing!
Once you’ve captured a few great shots, it’s time to print some photos! You can do this at places like Walmart of Costco, but when you print at photography focused shops–like Black’s or Ivan’s Camera–you’ll get higher quality prints! Don’t be afraid to print weird sizes either. Not all pictures have to be 4×8! Your arrangements will look much more professional with different sized photos. Here is one of my favourite size guides!
4- Print snaps from your phone!
There seems to be this unwritten rule that you can only print photos from high megapixel cameras, but one of my favorite photography pins ever was a print out of instagram photos! Instagram’s easy editing tools make for awesome quick shots of some of the best memories.
I hope these tips help you decorate your home with your own memories! Feel free to share any of your own tricks!