You probably have noticed by now that some of your

photographs seem to turn out very well and others do not.

Here are some guidelines to help you take stronger

photographs.

Avoid blurry photos (called “camera-shake”) by holding the camera steady. Use a tripod or flat surface if possible.

Avoid cluttered photos – limit your focus on small groups of objects & move closer to your subject matter when possible.

Sometimes a photo looks better taken horizontally, and sometimes a photo looks better taken vertically. Try both!

Instead of always taking pictures at your eye level, try using different angles (such as the eye level of the subject matter). BUT avoid always using the MYSPACE SHOT!

Instead of making everyone say “cheese” try to capture people in the moment (candids) – this makes for a more interesting shot.

Instead of relying solely on the camera’s flash, trying finding natural light or interesting light sources. This will help you avoid washed out images.

One of the advantages of digital photography is that you can see exactly what your images will look like on the LCD screen. If it doesn’t look right, take more! And more!

Combine the previous tips to tell a story. The best images have the basic elements of a story: characters, plot, setting, etc. Keep the story clear, concise and meaningful.