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November 20, 2009 |
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Created and Maintained by: The Photoimaging Information Council |
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Alice B. Miller |
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Springtime is filled with festive occasions, celebrations, and seasonal pastimes—all perfect picture-taking opportunities. You’re comfortable with your camera, but how are you at capturing the emotions of the moment, those special feelings that are the best part of those times? Wisconsin-based photographer Kim Larson (www.lifeisartphoto.com), who specializes in high school senior portraits and travels the nation photographing weddings, has a knack for capturing those special emotions in her photographs. I asked Kim to share a few tips with takegreatpictures.com visitors and she came up with 6 steps that will prove helpful the next time you photograph family and friends at a wedding, Sweet 16, outdoor birthday party, Memorial Day B-B-Q, or on vacation.  “It started raining during this engagement session, so we just opened the umbrella and kept shooting,” says Kim. © Kim Larson 2 Know your camera. Emotional moments are fleeting and easy to miss. Learn enough about your camera and its capabilities to be able to react quickly and capture your subject’s spontaneous emotions and actions. “It’s worth reading your camera’s manual or picking up a book that goes beyond the basics,” says Kim. “Have your camera on the settings you’ll need so when your subject sneaks a quick kiss, or one of the children starts laughing hysterically, you'll be able to capture the moment. This technique is also great if you're photographing a family gathering, prom, or sporting event. With your camera preset for the conditions you'll be photographing in—whether you set everything manually or have the camera determine your settings automatically—you’ll be ready for the unexpected when it occurs!”  “Having my camera preset for the lighting and distance made it easy to quickly capture this moment between more formal photos,” says Kim. © Kim Larson  4. Find flattering light. You can’t always control the lighting at a family gathering or when your favorite band is on stage, but there are ways to make the best of the situation. Suggests Kim, “Try to avoid harsh overhead sunlight or artificial lighting because it creates harsh shadows. I try to find open shade, or a large, shady area on the edge of the sunlight. Overhangs from buildings work well, so place your subject as close to the edge of the shade as possible. This allows some of the directional light from the sun to light your subject, which can be very flattering!”  “This photo of sisters was shot under a patio overhang, which gave us perfect light—no reflectors or fill flash were necessary—as well as a rock wall backdrop,” Kim explains. © Kim Larson 5. Find a non-distracting background. Choosing a background that doesn’t distract from the joy, enthusiasm, and excitement of your subjects is essential for the image to succeed. “A distracting background can steal the viewer's attention from the emotion you've captured in your subject, whereas a plain or subdued background can enhance the emotion,” says Kim. “I like to use the sides of buildings and garage doors. I've even used the bright blue side of a dumpster. Think creative and you’ll find non-distracting backgrounds everywhere!”  “I chose the plain brown garage door for this portrait because it does not distract from the couple's expressions,” says Kim. © Kim Larson 6. Keep a sense of humor. Whether you’re describing what you want your subjects to do or dealing with less than ideal lighting conditions, a sense of humor goes a long way. Says Kim, “When photographing your family and you want mom and dad to move closer, instead of saying, ‘Dad, put your arm around mom, put your hand on her shoulder, and tilt your head toward her,’ say ‘put your arm around mom and give her a really big bear hug.’ This usually leads to a picture of mom and dad laughing, with the kids looking on—a portrait that shows a close family that enjoys each other's company. While I take some posed shots, it’s the laughter-filled ones that capture the feelings and the moment best. Likewise, when the weather goes from bad to worse at an outdoor birthday party or the available light at graduation is less than optimal, lighten the mood with humor and take your best shot.”  “Rather than ask the bride to close her eyes and look down to show her neck—which might have made her feel self-conscious—I said, ‘Close your eyes and bask in the sunlight for a moment,’” Kim recalls. © Kim Larson Alice B. Miller is the owner of Plum Communications Inc. (www.plumcomm.com), a Long Island, NY-based editorial services and marketing communications company that supports the photo industry. Previously the editor of Studio Photography, Alice has a growing clientele that includes photographers, manufacturers, publications and associations. She is the director of public relations for the International Photographic Council and an advisory board member of NyghtFalcon photography studios.
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