Photography Tricks for Getting the Best Shot of People

With social media and cameras at our fingertips 24/7 inside our phones we are always taking pictures. Whether you are just using a cell phone or prefer to have a more sophisticated digital camera to shoot with, capturing the right shot of people/family/friends/loved ones when you are at a special event or just catching a special random moment can be tricky.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help make your photos of people turn out much better no matter your camera.

Opt out of using the zoom and get in close to your subject. Capture the details of their best features. As you get in close if you are taking a posed photo, not a candid shot, take the edge off of the subject’s nerves by talking with them and helping them forget the camera is even there. Maybe crack a joke to get them laughing and naturally smiling.

Don’t worry too much about staging the perfect pose to get a spectacular photo. Get people to pose sure, but don’t miss out on capturing moments that tell the story of why you are taking pictures. Let the photo tell the story. For instance on vacation, don’t just get the whole family standing together in front of a landmark take some photos of everyone taking part in activities.

When you are posing people or trying to capture a slower moment move around and capture it from several different places. Many photographers will shoot only moving mere inches taking tons of pictures of minute variations. Get up and move around A LOT. Be fast and energetic get high, get low, move back, move in close, go behind, change the angle, etc.

When shooting little ones, get down to their level. The eye-to-eye vantage point when shooting toddlers/babies/small children is a special one that will do wonders for bringing out the personality of your subject into the photo.

Notice the lighting in a space, where is it coming in from? Where is direct light shining? Where is soft light bringing in a gentle glow? Avoid putting people in direct harsh lighting when possible. If you are outside in the blaring sun look for the shade of a tree or a building you can move to the other side for some indirect light. Be careful with spotty shade that can cause issues in your photos.

The great thing about digital cameras is there is virtually no limit to the amount of pictures you can take. Take lots of photos and take them often. You never know when the perfect moment is going to come along and what angle is going to perfectly capture the feelings you want to communicate. Take more photos than you feel is necessary, just remember to delete the ones you don’t need later.

For those incredibly special moments you want to make sure come out just right, hire a professional photographer.

Let Jane Goodrich Photography in New York capture every special detail of your loved ones and the moments you want to remember forever.

Photos Courtesy of Jane Goodrich Photography for Families, babies, children and more.