“A picture is worth a thousand words.” But sometimes it can feel like you need to take a thousand pictures to capture what you want to say. While summertime offers plenty of photo opportunities – with sunny days, family vacations and plenty of outdoor activities – it also presents its own challenges. We’ve rounded up these tips to help you catch the best and brightest shots of your family.
- Watch the sun. Shooting into the sun can leave your subjects in shadow, particularly their faces. But there’s nothing like squinty eyes from the brightness to ruin the look. Instead, make the most of overcast days. What seems dreary to you can actually appear better in a photo.
- Speaking of the sun, keep track of the time that it rises and sets. The hour or two right after sunrise or before sunset, are prime times for taking pictures. Otherwise, you will find yourself fighting the harshness of summer sunlight.
- If you’re using a 35mm camera, decide which lens you will use before going outside. Breezy days and sandy beaches spell danger for an exposed sensor. You may have to give up that panoramic shot of the field in order to get a good close-up of your player with a telephoto lens. Or you may decide to focus on the landscape during an excursion, using a wide angle lens. If you do have to change lenses while you’re out, try ducking inside a building or car where you’re less likely to have dust blown onto the sensor.
- Don’t leave yourself out of the picture. But don’t compromise your safety to be in it. In many families it seems like one person is always behind the camera and rarely in the shots. For this, selfie sticks are a great solution. Unfortunately, they can also be a distraction from the surroundings. Some venues have banned selfie sticks due to people falling or being a nuisance to others. Instead, consider asking a bystander to take the shot for you.
Enjoy making memories this summer! With some planning, you’ll have the photos to show for it.
