Professional Photography Tips

If you've seen many beautiful portrait photos and you might be wondering how to take stunning pictures of your subjects' faces - it can be done by using both SLR cameras and compact digital cameras. However, as for amateur photographers (those who have limited knowledge about photography) - if you're under this category; you might be having difficulties of producing good portrait pictures with your point-and-shoot camera.

Certainly, there are few tips that you can take dazzling portrait photos by using your point-and-shoot camera:

Tip No.1: Taking multiple photo shoots in different angles

Basically, your subject's face is normally focused and placed at the center of the picture during a portrait photo shoot. In that case, not all subjects look nice by staring straightly at the camera lens during the photo shoot. Therefore, you can request the subject to stare slightly to the left or right at the lens during the photo shooting process. At the other way around, let the subject naturally look at you - this time, the photographer changes the position of her camera, i.e. by adjusting the height of the tripod, or taking few shots at different angles.

Tip No.2: Having different backdrops or themes for your subject

Choosing the right backdrop or theme is important to make your subject's face (a.k.a. the foreground) more noticeable and well-perceived by others. Avoid using striking colored backgrounds that could overshadow your subject. You can use other materials such as solid colored wrinkled cloths, boards or walls as your backdrops which can create different tones on your subject's face.

If you want to have real underwater themes - you can use the Canon waterproof digital camera to take clear and excellent underwater portrait photos which is impossibly taken by using conventional types of digital cameras.

Tip No. 3: Try suitable shooting mode for the right photo-taking condition

Make use of the advanced presets or shooting modes so that you can take high-quality portrait pictures in different conditions. For Canon PowerShot digital camera users, they would usually use the "Sunset/Evening Shooting Mode" to capture portrait pictures outdoors in the evening with the brightness, colors and contrast are well-adjusted.

Tip No. 4: Dress your subject

Based on the well-known quote - "Clothes make the man"; in this case, your subject's appearance can be enhanced with pleasant-looking attires. If you want to make your subject looks elegant - for instance, wearing a matching business suit can make your portrait picture look formal. In contrast, you can have your subjects to wear sports apparels (including baseball cap, sports jacket, jerseys) that would create a perfect athletic impression as well as develop a refreshing view of your subjects' faces.

How to Hold a Digital Camera

When taking photographs, one of the most common causes of ruined pictures is a shaky camera, which leads to blurred images. One of the reasons for camera shake is the propensity to hold a digital camera at arms length, which does not offer stability.

In addition, due to the lightweight nature of digital cameras, you may attempt to take a shot with just one hand. Of course, this gives you flexibility and may allow you to frame the shot better, but you will find that your hands are likely to shake or sway as you're taking the picture.

If you want to ensure that your memories are not ruined by blurring, it is imperative that you are able to hold the camera still. Although this may seem like a fairly simple task, it is surprisingly difficult with some of the small modern cameras.

The following digital camera tips will teach you how to hold the camera and avoid unnecessary blurring.

First, grasp the right side of the camera in your right hand. Ensure that your forefinger is placed lightly along the top of the camera, while your other three fingers grasp the front and your thumb presses against the back. Some cameras will have grip indentations, so it is clear where to place your fingers. Make sure that you are holding the camera firmly, but not gripping too tightly.

Meanwhile, the position of your left hand will depend on the style of camera. In most cases, it is wise to use the left hand to steady the camera from underneath. If you have a DSLR, then the left hand may be used to hold the lens and support the weight of the camera in this way.

When using a viewfinder, it is easier to hold the camera steady, as it will be close to your body. However, if you prefer to use the LCD screen, try to ensure that you're not holding the camera too far away from you. Holding it at arms length will not provide a steady grip. Instead, try bending your arms and keep your elbows tucked into your sides, then hold the camera out in front of you; 12 inches or so away from your face.

Ensure that you have a stable stance by standing with your feet shoulder width apart. If possible, it is helpful to steady yourself by leaning against a solid object, such as a wall or tree. Alternatively, you may prefer to kneel or sit down. Bear in mind, the stiller your body, the stiller the camera will be.

If you are still finding it difficult to get clear shots, you may want to invest in a tripod. These come in a variety of styles and vary dramatically in price. If you feel that carrying a tripod around would be too cumbersome, you may want to look at some of the more expensive, compact tripods, which can be folded to fit in a pocket. There are, of course, many other digital camera tips, but these basic hints on holding a camera are the first steps to taking better pictures.