The itasveer Blog

How to take flattering photographs of your loved ones

September 20th, 2010

Photography is a thing that we all love to do. And more specifically, it’s obvious that if you are reading this, you are most probably a photography enthusiast to a certain level. Lately, there has been a common question floating around us that how can one capture sensational photographs of one’s girlfriend/wife (we’re not biased in any form :P ). So we decided to share some tips and tricks of the trade that you might use to flatter your loved one by taking his/her beautiful photographs. While writing these tips, we are assuming that not everyone is a pro photographer out there having a thousand dollar DSLR and stuff. We are writing this keeping the average Joe as the reference point who carries his camera cell phone everywhere but also has a mid ranged point and shoot for special occasions.

So here goes the amazing tips and tricks collection:

It’s all about the concept

Beautiful photographs are not taken. They are created”.

We have seen zillions of people photographing their friends and loved ones in a same age-old and boring kind of pose. And it’s quite funny to see that the same pose acts as a de-facto standard for every photograph they take. And then there complaints! Boooo!!

If you take photographs every time in the same pose, they are bound to look similar (in a good or a bad sense). What we want to say is, unleash your creativity! Change your perspective. Change the pose. Experiment with lights. And you will see how amazing the same subject looks with the same camera you have!

Lights and Shadows

Lately, we have seen a very small number of people that actually understand how to use lights (and shadows) to give that effect in photographs. If you have always been thinking that you just had to press the shutter button anywhere and everywhere you want and the camera would take care of the rest, it’s not the case. Your camera is not intelligent enough to consider the factors that you can consider in your quest of making that amazing composition. So, stop relying on your camera computations and begin experimenting with lights and shadows. Always remember lights and shadows are everything in any kind of photography. Without lights, there is nothing.

Don’t Flash

Got obsessed with the amazing flash you got with your camera and then complaining about how easily it ruins your photographs? Well, you’re not the only one. Many people believe that using a flash will light up the whole scene and will make their photographs better. But actually, this isn’t the case always. Most of the time, flash ruins your photographs like hell. In my journey as a photographer, I don’t remember lifting the flash of my camera more than 10% of the time I shot photos and the reason being, it ruins the photographs. Simple! Using point and shoot and camera cell phones, you don’t have much flexibility with the direction of flash. Since we’re talking about taking photographs of your loved ones, you won’t obviously be shooting them at a distance of hundred yards. Mostly, you would be shooting them within some feet of distance. And in that case, try to avoid using flash as much as possible because a direct hit of light on the face will always have adverse effects. However, in low light conditions, flash may act as a life saver, use flash wisely.

Shoot Un-expectedly

This may sound a little awkward to some of you, but it is arguably the best method of getting the best photographs possible. What I mean to say here is that you should avoid getting the person in the picture “pose” every time you are taking one. Take natural shots. Shoot them while they are walking. Shoot them while they are smiling. Capture them when they are lost in deep thoughts. And you’ll surely be amazed on the quality of photographs you get following this strategy.

Well, those were some of our tips and tricks that would possibly help you taking flattering photographs of your loved ones. Do let us know if you find these useful. We would also love to see your creations. Happy clicking.

 

Photo credits :
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericperrone
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/byfer39
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/notsogoodphotography
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/heartfatality
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/_-amy-_

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Entry Filed under: Photography