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Position:Home>Visual Arts> How to get photos to not look just like snapshots??Question: How to get photos to not look just like snapshots!?!? Well i'm on my schools yearbook staff and i'm the photographer so I have to take photos obviously!. I usually take photos of still life and nature so i'm not used to takinig photos of people!. In my yearbook the pictures look like bad snapshots! so how can i get it took look a little better!? Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Most year book pictures have flat frontal lighting with a full face pose!. Set up the proper lighting so that you get a modeling effect ( some shape and detail on the face) do a facial analysis of your student before you start and do 3/4 face shot of their best side!. Look at the hair, which side is fuller!? That is generally the best side!. Look for defects such as a long nose, double chin, pimples, cold sores ect, and use angle or light to hide those, when the student sits on the posing stool, have them cross their legs, even though you are doing a head shoulders shot, this will relax them and give a natural look and provide a proper contour for the shoulders!. Situate the stool at a 45 degree angle to the camera!. The adjust the lighting that is the best for each student!. IMHO all school pictures are horrible- they all have a washed out look, poor use of lighting, and look like bad mug shots!. I think you see it too! Now go show that the pros how its done!Www@QuestionHome@Com Ah the memories!.!.!.I started out as my high school photographer!. Take time to look at professional photo sites online!. It will give you ideas of how to setup your subjects for shots!. Make sure you have good lighting - take photos outdoors if you get a say in it!. Sad thing is many photos in a yearbook will look much like snapshots if you can't have a lot of say in where a photo is taken or how the group is setup!. The more you understand your camera and what it can do, the better your odds are for duplicating what you find to be pleasing for your subject matter!. Www@QuestionHome@Com One simple trick is the "rule of thirds"!. Mentally put a tic-tac-toe grid in the viewfinder and try to put your subject at one of the 4 places where the lines cross!. In outdoor shots, put the horizon on a line (about 1/3 way from top or bottom)!. also, don't get "eye lazy"!. Look carefully at the composition!. Are you cutting something off, is there a piece of clutter in it you can avoid!? Shoot a lot and adjust settings in iffy situations!.!.!.it's the digital age and you can afford to shoot a ton!.Www@QuestionHome@Com One word: Lighting!. If you understand it and use it effectively you can achieve great photographs!. If not, you can achieve years and years worth of snapshots!. That is the single most important difference!.Www@QuestionHome@Com great images are made not taken - mostly, unless your henri cartier plan your shots, use the correct lighting, use high pass filter study photography aWww@QuestionHome@Com Make sure you have good lighting!. Nice, non-distracting background and make your "models" turn their faces slighty!. No straight-on shots and ask them to not wear white or a very graphic shirt!. (photographs easier)Www@QuestionHome@Com |