Photography Tips - From CM Australia

You don't need to be a professional photographer to capture picture-perfect moments. Life is like a camera: Simply focus on the important things. Then make your photographs the centrepiece of a meaningful album. Here are some helpful tips.

Composition: Keep your camera ready. Keep the camera close at hand to capture the big and little moments in life. Extra batteries are a must, too. And to make sure your images are free of imperfections, carry a photographic cleaning solution and lint-free paper to keep your lens clean.

Get close to your subject: Eliminate distractions and background noise by getting close to your subject. When photographing children, get down to the child's level.

Remember the basics: The rule of thirds works well as you mentally set up your shots. For example, for an outdoor scene place the horizon one-third from the top or one-third from the bottom of your viewfinder. When taking a photo of a single subject, such as a person, place them in the left one-third or right one-third of the viewfinder.

Be patient: Take a few moments to walk around and look at the subject and the background. Notice how different angles and light affect how things look through your viewfinder. Think about what you want to remember from the scene and capture it. Digital cameras also function using ISO standards. See your user manual for details.

Turn your camera: Instead of taking all of your photographs in a horizontal format, turn your camera to capture some shots in a vertical format. You can mount both horizontal and vertical photos in your Creative Memories album.

Hold your camera steady or use a tripod: Holding the camera steady and pushing the shutter button gently are necessary for sharp, clear pictures. A tripod will hold the camera motionless and allow you to concentrate on the composition of your photos.