Here's another informative article. This one is about taking a great picture. This article was written by Angela Owens of Owens Photography.
First off you need a good camera. I personally like digital. It's easier to take pictures and only pick the ones you want without having to waste money on developing ones you don't want. The higher the mega pixel the better and it helps if the camera offers added functions so you can adjust for lighting, speed, etc. When photographing a subject or model, make sure it is centered up. a slight angle can add feeling to the picture but not everyone wants pictures on an angle so take that into account first. Most customers want multiple shots at different angles. Front, Back, Closeups of the most important details on the outfits and maybe an overall shot with a prop to use as a main shot. Always make sure the outfit is pressed and neat and properly displayed or fitted on the child. If you are using a model make sure the child doesn't put their arms or any objects in front of the outfit. Pull the hair back or put it behind the outfit so that all of the detail can be seen clearly. If you are shooting outdoors do it on a cloudy day so that the sunlight doesn't hit directly over the model. It can cause overly dark shadows and overly blown out light spots and won't show the outfit at its best. If its a really sunny day go to a shady area to shoot. In most cases you should turn off the external flash on your camera. It usually only causes shadowing in places you don't want and keeps the picture from looking professional. If you don't have enough light hitting your model in the shade try getting two large very stiff white poster boards and using them to catch the suns light and reflect it onto your model from different directions. If you don't have professional lighting this is also a good trick to use to shoot indoors near large windows where lots of sunlight is coming in. Don't photograph the child standing against a wall and use a flash it will make a dark shadow behind them. How ever you choose to light the subject you should make sure the light is coming in at different directions not just one so that the model and outfit is evenly lit.
First off you need a good camera. I personally like digital. It's easier to take pictures and only pick the ones you want without having to waste money on developing ones you don't want. The higher the mega pixel the better and it helps if the camera offers added functions so you can adjust for lighting, speed, etc. When photographing a subject or model, make sure it is centered up. a slight angle can add feeling to the picture but not everyone wants pictures on an angle so take that into account first. Most customers want multiple shots at different angles. Front, Back, Closeups of the most important details on the outfits and maybe an overall shot with a prop to use as a main shot. Always make sure the outfit is pressed and neat and properly displayed or fitted on the child. If you are using a model make sure the child doesn't put their arms or any objects in front of the outfit. Pull the hair back or put it behind the outfit so that all of the detail can be seen clearly. If you are shooting outdoors do it on a cloudy day so that the sunlight doesn't hit directly over the model. It can cause overly dark shadows and overly blown out light spots and won't show the outfit at its best. If its a really sunny day go to a shady area to shoot. In most cases you should turn off the external flash on your camera. It usually only causes shadowing in places you don't want and keeps the picture from looking professional. If you don't have enough light hitting your model in the shade try getting two large very stiff white poster boards and using them to catch the suns light and reflect it onto your model from different directions. If you don't have professional lighting this is also a good trick to use to shoot indoors near large windows where lots of sunlight is coming in. Don't photograph the child standing against a wall and use a flash it will make a dark shadow behind them. How ever you choose to light the subject you should make sure the light is coming in at different directions not just one so that the model and outfit is evenly lit.
EXAMPLE OF A PICTURE WITH BAD LIGHTING
EXAMPLE OF A PICTURE WITH GOOD LIGHTING
Getting your child to do what you want is tricky, especially if they are very small. Just remember they don't always have to be looking at the camera to make a good shot. In fact a lot of designers don't care for them to look at the camera because they want to showcase the clothing more than the child wearing them. Not every child is the same so different tricks will work for different children but here are a few ideas. For babies get a bright colored feather duster and tickle them with it then put it on your head if you want them to look at you. Don't have anyone else with you at the shoot to distract them from looking at you or where you want them to look. Sing their favorite song or play patty cake to get them smiling. Use a squeeze toy to get their attention. If the child has just learned to walk and you can't get them to sit still. Find a really cute toy to use as a prop that they can sit on or hold that will get them to be still long enough to get the shot you are looking for. If you have an older child who is having a bad day sometimes it helps to have a friend along. Take pictures of the friend just for fun until your child decides to join in. Let your child come up with poses she wants to do in exchange for doing the ones you want her to do. Trade with her. Let her take some of you then you take some of her. My final trick that usually works with the child who just won't cooperate with me no matter what..... Red Light, Green Light Shoot. Its like red light green light go except I turn my back and by the time I turn around the child is suppose to be on their spot posing like I said by the time I say shoot then I turn around quick and snap away. I have to be quick though cause if the child is that determined not to take a picture it has to be like a real game and we have to do it again and again for each pose. But.. It always works for me.
Of course there is a lot more to photography than I can list in a blog but this should help the amateur photographer in general.
Thanks for a great article Angela!
She's a Model Mom/ Professional Photographer
If you would like to check out her website:
http://www.owengraphics.8m.com/OwensPhotography.htm
Her product photography link is
http://www.owengraphics.8m.com/Models/Index.htm
Of course there is a lot more to photography than I can list in a blog but this should help the amateur photographer in general.
Thanks for a great article Angela!
She's a Model Mom/ Professional Photographer
If you would like to check out her website:
http://www.owengraphics.8m.com/OwensPhotography.htm
Her product photography link is
http://www.owengraphics.8m.com/Models/Index.htm
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