Hello my name is Tara and I am a lover of all of your holiday photographs.
You post an image of a beach on Instagram, I am double clicking that immediately. Post a photograph of a sunset on Facebook, I’m all over it. Want to show me your trip on your screen? Undivided attention!
We really do holidays well – beautiful scenery, loads of colour and lights and lots of smiling faces. Why wouldn’t you want all of these things to show up as beautiful as it was in that moment that you took the photograph?
I can get you there, or at least a little closer, without having to erect a mini studio in your campsite. Here are my top three tips for improving your holiday photography right this minute.
1. Clean that lens – And I’m not just talking about wiping it with your shirt.
Your tshirt or even a tissue can leave minute scratches on your lens. Please please please, don’t do it.
A lens cleaner kit can be picked up from a camera shop for under $20. Using a microfibre cloth and the professional fluid, dust will be a thing of the past. Trust me, if you only use one tip, make it this one.
2. Check the light.
Holiday photographs are usually landscapes or portraits – selfies mix the two sure, but each requires a slightly different use of the light available.
For a landscape, meter your light based on where you want the focus to be. On a smartphone, this is pretty easy as you can just tap the screen to select this point. If you tap in a light part of the screen, the image will darken and if you tap in a dark part .. well I’m sure you can work out what happens.
For a great sunset, you want your photograph to be darker. For a day time beach or water photograph, just a smidge lighter can make a difference between ‘Cool’ and “WOW”.
Portraits are often the most difficult to get right. If you have natural light available, use that (but not the bright, harsh sunlight kind). Put your subject near a window – or a lamp – and start with that.
If you are shooting indoors, don’t use the flash especially if you are using a smartphone. Those tiny little lights make people look like zombies and cast harsh reflections … plus they bounce off everything shiny. If you are shooting outside, don’t be afraid to use that flash now to fill in some of the darker areas.
You want to know the real secret to a great portrait – being ready. People are different when they are not looking at the camera – you can capture some amazing candid moments!
3. Do a quick composition check.
Most cameras will have a grid setting that will place rulers on the screen that divide it in to three vertical and three horizontal lines – we call this the Rule of Thirds.
The Rule of Thirds isn’t just some photography mumbo jumbo, putting your subject on one of these lines is pleasing to the eye.Once you have placed your subject, if possible, move closer. When your subject fills the frame, you have instant impact.
Alternatively, pick a single subject and refer to the ‘Rule’ above.
Try moving around and ensuring that the background isn’t cluttered and whatever is behind the subject is complementary to the photograph you want to make.
If all else fails … just filter the heck out of it, as it is not the quality of the photograph that is the most important thing.
It’s the memory you made taking it.
Now I’d love to see your favourite holiday photograph – post your pick or a link to it in the comments below.
Happy Holidays!
