Merry Christmas to you all! In this weeks post on my quest to be a known (and better) photographer, I am interviewing an incredible Northern California photographer who is great at getting “the shot”.
Whether you are spending time away on vacation, with your huge family, or keeping it low key – taking some great shots will help you remember the holidays for many years to come.
Today’s post is to answer some common questions that come up around taking pictures during the holidays I want to thank Ray Mabry of RMabry Photography for agreeing to be interviewed for today’s entry.
Q. How do I take pictures of a large family?
- “First and foremost take multiple shots! There is bound to be someone looking elsewhere, someone blinking or just not ready. One trick I have learned about group shots is to start shooting the second the camera hits my eye.
- Get as close as you can to the group you’re photographing (without cutting anyone out of frame). The closer you can get the more detail you’ll have in their faces – which is what we are looking for in the first place.
- For more formal group photos put the taller members towards the back of the group and centered with shorter people in front and on the edges of the group.
- Most flashes on a point and shoot camera are far too weak for large group portraits. Your best bet is to be in a well lit room or, when possible, head outside!”
Q. How do I deal with ‘red eye?’
- “With a point and shoot camera it is difficult to avoid red eye because the flash is too close to the plane of the lens. Use of the red eye function on the camera is really the only way to minimize the effect. Watch for the “pre-flash” – people think that the photo is done and may start moving around before the shutter clicks. Also, most image editors today have a red eye tool or function built into the software. But this requires you to fix it afterward.”
Q. Posed vs Un-posed – what makes a better picture?
- “This is a tough question as it is subjective. I personally like un-posed/candid shots. There is a natural and genuine aspect about a candid photo that draws me to it.
- Don’t get me wrong there is no replacement for a well posed group photo. Posed group shots give you more control over the photo but could also make everyone look rigid.
- When I am posing a group I will get them into a basic placement and then grab the camera and start shooting before anyone can stiffen up. After I get my candid/posed shots I will then start directing the group into a more formal grouping.”
And here is one more question that I had and forgot to ask, so I researched it myself:
Why does the ‘camera add 10 pounds”?
- Well, I found out that It is an optical illusion – Without getting too techie, a photograph is a 2 dimensional representation of a 3 dimensional subject, so the light has a tendency to “flatten” the subject and reduce the illusion of depth. So when the width doesn’t change, it makes the people look bulkier.
- What’s the solution? Technically speaking, nothing we can do about it.
- My solution? Offer to take the photo (but that is the camera-shy photographer in me).
I’m confident you will figure something out! The goal is, Get the camera! Take the shots! Posed or un-posed – good lighting, bad lighting, or blurry…they are all a part of your holiday moments.
You’ll be glad you did.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Rem
(Remy’s dream is creating opportunities for photography showings and public displays of her work and to ultimately be recognized nationally as a photographer … then the world. Remy’s post day is Friday)
DREAM GOAL: TO HAVE A GALLERY SHOWING OF HER BEST PHOTOGRAPHS
Remy’s dream is creating opportunities for photography showings and public displays of her work and to ultimately be recognized nationally as a respected photographer . . . then the world. Remy is CEO of Cornerstone Creative, a business consulting practice in Northern California. Remy’s post day is Wednesday. +Remy Gervais
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