Deadlines are July 1rst, but i cant find where to schedule my appointment for senior photos. Bryan allan is contracted with Mariner high school. Cape Coral, Fl

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A photographer that takes nice senior portraits and willing to travel to Mississippi to take wedding pictures.

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Photography is your passion!  You take fairly good pictures of your kids They’re not award winners by any stretch of the imagination, but they aren’t clunkers either.

You were hoping to get your photos to really pop.You might be one of countless scrapbookers that just wants to take things to the next level.   So,  you saved your money and got an expensive digital SLR camera, only to be disappointed.

Why don’t your pictures look any different?What went wrong?  Everybody knows that the key to great photography is having a great camera, right?

We’ve all been here, at one time or another.  The truth is that it isn’t the camera.Having a great camera is one thing, but knowing how to use it is another. If you don’t understand the basic principles of photography, having a great camera will be of no help to you.

There are quite a few photographic principles that need to be applied in order to make a great image.There are a lot of things to consider, composition, framing, depth of field, color balance, subject orientation as well as the most obvious consideration……quality of light.

Who teaches quality of light?Where do you find a good website that’ll teach you how to set up lights for good portraits?

Do you find yourself overwhelmed at times?Maybe you’ve poured through tons and tons of photo books and we’re unable to find anything that effectively taught you about all these principles.

Quite often, some of these photographic concepts are presented in such a way as to make them overly complicated and you become even more confused than you were before.

If you’re a frustrated kid photographer, don’t get discouraged.Keep enjoying your hobby.

The secrets to great photography aren’t rocket science.  You just need to find a good source of information to help you apply those techniques.

Maybe you’re frustrated because you fear that the only way to take great shots is to invest tons of money into lighting, gadgets, backgrounds and other expensive photography supplies.

Consider for a moment just how much money you’re saving in film and processing costs by shooting with a digital camera.

WIth what you save on film costs alone in a few months, you can perhaps purchase an inexpensive portrait lighting setup.

Ultimately you want to be having fun with photography.Experimentation is nothing to be afraid of.  It’s ok to make some mistakes along the way as you’re learning the ropes of what makes a great photograph.

As you consistently apply the techniques you learn, the improvement in the overall quality of your images will become obvious.  Eventually, you’ll become more and more aware of you’re unique photographic style and vision.

Perhaps self discovery is the best part of the whole photographic process.

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Portraiture can be very rewarding. It is an opportunity to display someone’s best side (literally), to create an image that says something.

The first rule of good portrait photography is LOOK at your subject.

Although this may sound obvious take a look through all the photos you have of friends and family to see if there is a certain “sameness” about them. Head and shoulders, passport photos, awkward poses, uncomfortable expressions, blank looks, embarrassed smiles…?

Everyone has some individual feature that should be photographed. This doesn’t mean it has to be a $2000 nose job, pouty lips, bedroom eyes or perfect skin. But it should be some quality that best communicates the person’s individuality.

Sound daunting? It isn’t if you follow some basics.

Don’t Use Direct Flash.

Flash is light at its most boring. On rare occasions it can really lift a shot into dazzling life, but most of the time using available light is better. Flash has the tendency to make the image seem bland and breaks any mood or sense of trust you have created with your subject.

Use a Telephoto Lens. 105-135mm is best.

Wide angle is a big no-no.

Use Vertical Compostion.

Turn the camera on its side. A protrait photograph generally encompasses the head and upper body and sometimes includes the hands. Portraits almost always look best when taken vertically. Horizontal framing leaves you with wide open spaces either side of the subject that can detract from the feel of the shot.

Get Your Subject Dressed Up if That’s at all Possible.

If this is a semi-formal portrait you can have some say in the clothes. Dark or light, solid colors work best. Patterns, checks, stripes and swirls add confusion to the eye of the viewer. Strong colors can can overwhelm the skin tones. A vee or scoop neck is better than a round neck. For older women or men, cover up the shoulders, for young women leave them exposed.

Try to use whatever available light you have to create a good effect.

Try to place your subject in a postion where there is soft light coming mainly from one direction. This can give a moody feel and usually gets the eyes more attention. You can use a reflector on the shadowed side to ‘bounce the light’ if the contrast between highlight and shadow is too strong. A simple reflector can be made by covering a sheet of cardboard with aluminum foil.

Choose Your Subject’s “best side”.

People really do have one. Get one shoulder turned towards the camera so one side is favored a little. Try that particular pose another way and work out which one is best.

Allow the Person to be Seated.

This helps put them at ease by haviing somewhere to “be” and assists you in being able to direct them more easily. Direct the person.

In a portrait photo, you’re dealing with minor movements and shifts of position and angle. Try to shoot slightly above the person to make the eyes open more. Lower the shoulder closest to the camera, get the head straight or at an engaging angle. Drop the chin a fraction.

Some people look best when they smile and some don’t. You can get more interesting expressions and nuances without a smile. Ask your subject to think about something they like. This will highlight the eyes and accentuate the mouth lines.

If the hands are in the shot, take a good look at them. Hands can sometimes look awkward or even ugly. A fist that is lightly closed is usually neutral. Place the hands in the lap on resting on a knee and see how it looks. Crop them out later if they don’t work.

If you’re shooting candid portraits the same tips apply but in these shots you have to move around to get the best angle.

Tags: senior portraits senior pictures graduation portraits class of 2010, creative senior portraits, high school seniors