Motion blur is the art of capturing a moving subject. This technique is often used in sports photography, but can also be used to create interesting images with light or fast moving objects. To effectively capture motion blur, slow down your shutter speed, and hold your camera still as your subject moves.
Holiday Photography Techniques | For a lot of photographers, the holidays are a busy time. Photographers are requested to document and preserve memories that are so important to so many. But the holidays can also be extremely challenging to photograph. The lighting is inconstant (and frequently dim or multicolored), people are moving speedily, backgrounds are busy, and there is always too much going on at the same time. Without this becoming a ‘how-to-photography-article’ cliché, we have to emphasize once again that a major goal of all your photos is to tell a story. The holidays offer many occasions to capture a story within a single image or with an advancement of images. The easiest type of holiday story to tell in pictures is your family’s complete experience during the season.
Nothing says ‘bad picture’ more than a photo that has been over-flashed by that little bit of unforgiving light on your camera. Instead, look for pleasant and natural lighting. Shoot with the flash off as much as possible and particularly when shooting decoration lights or candles. If there is daylight available, then try moving your subject near a window and use the natural light to brighten their face. If there is no outside light available but sufficient inside light, use a tripod or set your camera on something so that it will remain still. This will always make a picture feel warmer.
Posing | Holiday Photography Techniques
Posing people, particularly groups of people, for portraits is an art that gets better with experience. If you’re posing two or more people together, avoid putting everyone’s head at the equal height. With a group of three, for example, create a triangle. Each face is at one point within the triangle. This visually creates relationships between the subjects and keeps viewers focused on the faces in the image. Always tell people to get in as close as they possibly can, and then move them in slightly closer. That tiny gap between two heads looks a lot bigger on camera.
Also, make sure to lean in toward the group with your body, not just your head. When photographing more than one person, make sure their faces are on the same plane, especially if you’re using a wide aperture. This will ensure that everyone’s face is in focus.
