Take Advantage of Natural Light We are all guilty of using the built-in flash on our cameras to add light into our photos. Resist this temptation and turn it off! Using your flash indoors creates harsh lighting for your subjects. Instead, move as close as you can to a window or open door during optimum daylight hours, and position your subject toward the window at a slight angle for a flattering perspective. If you are shooting at a time when there is not as much natural light to work with, open up the aperture on your camera as wide as you can and slow down your shutter speed. This will allow the most light possible within the room to be captured. |
Set the Stage Don’t let a messy house act as the background. It will distract from the most important feature of your photos: the subject! If you are planning a photo-taking session, do a quick prep of the area – fluff pillows, put away toys and clutter, and even add some fresh flowers to a vase. If you are taking a spur-of-the-moment photo, the best thing to do is move in close. Fill the entire space you see through the lens with your subject. This way, you can avoid including any unwanted mess in the photo and keep the eye focused on what you want seen. |
Naturally, many of us position our subject smack dab in the middle of our lens. If you want to create photos that are more visually stunning, try using the rule of thirds. Imagine that your image is divided into nine equal segments by two vertical and two horizontal lines (like tic-tac-toe). Position the most important elements in your scene at the points where the lines intersect. The additional negative space draws your eye to the subject and instantly makes your photos more interesting to look at.
What trial and error lessons have you learned when taking indoor photos for your digital photo albums?