Good vs. Great

Ready to take your photos to the next level? Have you ever heard someone look at a photo and say "She must have a really good camera"? We want to share a few photo tips with you that will help you take good photos and make them great. And all of these are ones you can use without having an expensive camera!

The photo below is a "good" photo taken one evening at the beach. How can this photo go from "good" to GREAT?

Change your perspective...

Did you know having your subject look up at you minimizes any double chin effect? (I always remember this when someone is taking a photo of ME...ha!) See how much different this photo is just by taking it from a different angle?Put your subject in the best light...

Both of the above photos were taken an hour before sunset. But in the second photo, her face seems to almost glow. Have you ever noticed in the evenings how everything outside seems to be bathed in a golden glow? At this time of day, the sun is low in the sky and acts similar to a big gold reflector like the professional photographers use. The light isn't too bright but instead hits the left side of her face more to create shadows. It also reflects in her eyes. If you're trying to capture this golden glow, remember to turn off your camera's flash.

Hmm...what else can you do to improve a photo even more?....

Add a tilt...

If you look at photos in magazines or today's senior portrait photographer displays, many of them have the subject tilted to one side or another. Try it! Rather than holding your camera with a horizontal or vertical orientation, just tilt it slightly to the left or right. You'll be surprised at how much more dynamic your photo can be. And at first, it does feel a little strange... but the results are worth it!

Give these ideas a try and let us know how they work for you!