Even with the onslaught of other forms of visual technology, photographs remain an undeniable cord tying us to our ancestors and preserving records of our lives for those to come later.
Photography is not rocket science. Anyone can learn to take excellent photos and record those important memories. (Notice, I did not say anyone could shoot for National Geographic.) Most people do not know how to see photographs, but once shown what is obvious to more visual people, they can execute charming snapshots at any event.
First, let's get one thing straight.
Good cameras don't take good pictures. Good photographers do.
As a professional photographer, I have well-meaning friends and co-workers view my photographs constantly. Nothing is more frustrating than showing a pain-stakingly framed and executed photograph and hear, "Wow, you must have a really great camera." An educated photographer can take a point and shoot disposable camera and have prints ready for framing. An arrogant, but rich, fancy camera owner can butcher even the simplest snapshot.
Look through the viewfinder.
I am amazed when I view people's snapshots. I watch them raise the camera, point it at a group of people and take the photo. Then I view the product and see no people, or half the people, or just the people's shoes. Did they have their eyes open behind that eyepiece? They shrug and say, "I'm just not good at taking pictures." Truth is, most people simply do not look at the frame. They raise the camera and haphazardly snap.
Slow down. Look. This is a tough concept, I know, but the little frame box represents exactly what the four by six inch printed photograph will look like. If your baby has no legs in the viewfinder, guess what? Yep, no legs in the photograph.
Take the time to frame your photo. Make sure the frame looks like the photograph should. Move the camera around, zoom in or out, and make sure you have included all the information you want in the final photograph.
Focus on the subject, not whatever is randomly closest to the camera.
When using an automatic camera it will focus on whatever object is in the center of the frame. If you're photographing your daughter next to a far away mountain the grid in the center of the viewfinder must fall on your daughter. If it falls on the mountain your camera will focus beyond your daughter and she'll be all fuzzy.
The best trick to learn with auto-focus is how to focus and reframe a photograph. Let's say your toddler is pointing at a bunch of ducks farther away. You want a photograph with your son in the bottom left of the picture and the ducks in the background. Point your automatic camera at your little boy, press the shutter button halfway down. You will hear your camera make cool noises as it focuses. (I'm a big fan of the noises - they let me know everything is working. Especially with I get that little beep as it locks in focus.)
Most people press the button all the way and never realize there are two positions: halfway and all the way. All the way snaps the shutter and take a picture. However, if you hold the button halfway, let it focus on your son, and, still holding the button halfway, move your camera to reframe the photograph. Now snap. Practice. It will become second nature.
Stop posing everyone.
My mother was the worst. She would see my brother and I playing in the yard, think it was a sweet moment, make us stop playing and come pose for the camera. She never captured the moment, because she was so busy posing the perfect picture.
People are the most photogenic when they do not realize they are being photographed. They have natural smiles, natural enjoyment on their faces. Let your kids keep playing on the swings or chasing the cat. These are the real memories. Let yourself disappear into the background and let your kids be kids. Let your relatives laugh after Thanksgiving dinner, play football, whatever. Watch for these moments and capture them as they are. Don't try to rearrange things on table. Don't encourage your children to play tag in the prettier back garden. Just let them be and see what kind of shots you get. These are impossible to stage and are the most requested shots from a professional shoot.
Because you are around your family and friends more than the photographer (who sees them a couple of hours when nothing un-posed is going to happen) you will have many more opportunities to shoot these moments.
