Professional photographer, television personality, and author Erin Manning is our guest writer for this month. Be sure to check out Erin's latest book, Make Money with your Digital Photography.
Are your vacation photos looking a little…blah? Are people falling asleep during your slideshows? Help is on the way! I have some tips and techniques for capturing memorable family vacation photos, whether you have a DSLR, compact camera, or smartphone.
1. Stay in the shade.
Take beautiful pictures in the middle of a bright, sunny day by placing people in a shaded area near direct sunlight, for example, an open doorway or under the shade of a building or tree.
2. Go off-center.
The rule of thirds can help you create more compelling photographs. Envision a tic-tac-toe board on your viewfinder and place something of interest at one or more of these intersections.
3. Get framed.
Choose an interesting frame for your image, for example, an arched trellis, a unique doorway, overhanging tree branch, or an unusual architectural opening.
4. Capture the action.
Use a fast shutter speed or your camera’s sports mode to freeze the action. Even smartphones can stop motion if you’re shooting in bright light. Take a lot of images in sequence. Encourage movement and play and watch those “ok” shots turn into something interesting.
5. Use soft light.
A general rule for beautiful images is to plan your photo shoot for early morning or late afternoon light because softer shadows equate to less contrast in your scene and more flattering light.
6. Fill it with flash.
Use your camera’s Forced Flash setting in bright sunlight to fill in shadows or avoid a silhouette.
7. Change your point of view.
Mix things up and shoot from different angles and distances. When you put these images together in a slideshow, it’s much more fun to watch.
8. Read the signs.
Capture the essence of place by photographing interesting locations, local people, architectural details, and signs.
9. Get in the shot.
Use your camera’s self-timer so you can appear in the family photo, too.
10. Play.
Experiment, get a shot of the entire area, capture details, get in close, and be silly. These are the images that show off your unique personality and help create a compelling story about your adventures.
