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Quick Tips: Keeping those resolutions

Posted on October 1, 2010

In January resolutions matter. By June (okay, February), they’re long forgotten. Let’s face it: resolutions are hard to keep! But when it comes to photos, you should always stick to your resolutions.

Why? Because resolution matters.

I’m not talking losing bad habits and gaining new ones, I’m talking taking, printing and sharing photos.

When I bought my first digital camera I used the settings that gave me the most bang for my buck. Or so I thought. I knew that by selecting one option, I could get 4 photos per memory card (seriously!), 32 photos or 64 photos. Or something similar (this was 2001 and I wasn’t working with a very large memory card, obviously). I wanted to get the most photos, so I set my camera on the setting which would allow that.

I wish I could go back to ’01 and slap myself.

Changing the resolution or quality settings on your camera is like choosing between french fries and a salad. You’re desperate, so you choose the fries because they’re more filling, but you know you’ll regret it when you step on the scale. If you choose to take low quality photos, you’ll regret it later.

Why? Because, like french fries, taking low resolution photos doesn’t usually fulfill your needs.

Let’s talk DPI & PPI
Don’t you adore acronyms? First things first: DPI stands for dots per inch and relates to printing and the number of dots of ink per inch of paper; PPI stands for pixels per inch and relates to digital images and the number of pixels per square inch. We can get all technical and go over the ways to determine pixel density and other things, but do we really want to go there?

(I don’t. If you want to, feel free. We’re just here to K.I.S.S. – or keep it simple, silly.)

The long and short of it: more PPI = better DPI. More pixels equals a better print job.

And the reason the french fries aren’t as good for you as the salad? Less pixels. This is what we call low resolution. And taking all of those photos at 640 pixels wide back in ’01 and ’02 has left me with horrible quality photos of my oldest daughter when she was a baby.

Because when you print a 640 pixel wide photo as a 4×6, you get a lot of what is called pixelation. Simply put, there were not enough pixels in the digital file for a clear print.

Quality over quantity
Why am I telling you this? So you don’t make the same mistake I did. When you’re taking photos, especially with an actual camera (vs. a cell phone photo), you’ll want to increase your file size. You won’t be able to take as many photos as you increase the file size, but you can buy additional or larger memory cards. It’s well worth it.

(To find out how to change your file size, go into your settings menu or consult your user guide.)

The higher the resolution, the better quality print you’ll have.

But wait, there are benefits!
What happens when you want to share photos via email, blogs and social networks like Twitter and Facebook? This is when low resolution photos are great!

Like french fries, they don’t have long-lasting benefits. They’re good for a smile. They’re great for sharing (because larger files tend to take longer to download and view).

But you likely won’t get a great print with them.

The easiest way to handle this is to take your photos on high quality settings, then resize and save a low resolution copy.

Highs and lows
If you’ve ever purchased digital files from a photographer, you have likely received both high and low resolution files. When you purchase these files from Echo Day Photography, I provide both versions of edited files. The high resolutions are for printing, the low resolution photos can be shared with your friends and family (as long as my logo stays intact, otherwise it is a copyright violation).

Keeping up with resolution when you’re shooting photos is pretty important – you never know when you’ll take your best photo!

Good luck and happy shooting. ♥ And remember what I said about french fries!

Donkey Business

Posted on September 8, 2010

Aren’t these guys adorable? My children and I see them every morning on the way to work/school and every morning I want to stop and photograph them because the light at that particular time of the morning is generally amazing and magical.

A couple of weeks ago we had a pre-autumn spruce-up at church. I was in a particularly happy mood that morning. It was Saturday and cool, the humidity had not yet set in and we’d had a much-anticipated break in the heat wave that’s plagued our area since late May; two of my children spent the previous night elsewhere and the other two had soccer practice, so I was alone. I was excited to have a few hours without the responsibilities of being a parent while being productive at church.

On my way I stopped to photograph the donkeys. They were grazing in their pasture and I didn’t want to disturb them, but they were more than happy to oblige after a few minutes. The small guy on the far left was a little skiddish, walking around nervously until he figured out I wasn’t there to hurt them. And then? They all just stood there. Perfectly. Allowing me to capture them.

And they nuzzled up – twice! Did you see that?

How sweet is that?! (The two in the back never glanced in my direction once. They were too busy munching on grass.)

So why am I sharing pictures of donkeys? Because there are a few things these little guys can teach us about posing for sessions:

1. Don’t be afraid of photographers. I’m really not going to hurt you, I promise! Don’t be afraid, just go with the flow. Relax and have faith that our session will be great!

2. Just be yourself. My job is to capture you, to capture memories of you, to capture the love you share with others. There’s no need for pretending. Be the you God intended for you to be. Be the you you want remembered. It also doesn’t matter what you wear – just be you.

3. Don’t pose - act naturally. Just like our donkey friends, do what you normally do. I strive for candid, modern, photojournalistic styles in my photography which means you can act the way you would if I wasn’t around and together we can make fabulous photos. Hug your partner, kiss your children, smile because you’re happy and blessed and in love. Just do what comes naturally!

The bottom line: Trust in your photographer, be yourself and just be captured the way you are. These are all the quick tips you need for a fantastic session, I promise.

PS – If you were the owner of these donkeys, would you want an enlargement of these guys? I think they’re terribly adorable and I love the light so I naturally want to print them, but I don’t want to be creepy.

PPS – Did you catch the sneak peek of my new logo? That was not inspired by the donkeys, I promise, but I adore it.

Quick Tips: Extreme Heat

Posted on July 15, 2010

I love sunflowers and have ever since I was a teenager. And lucky for me, living in a rural area, I see plenty of them in the summer.

Tonight on our way to church I drove down Holly Grove Road, which locals may know as a road that stretches from Covington, through Brighton and Gilt Edge. With its winding curves, quaint little farms and rolling hills, it’s one of my favorite roads. My favorite spot in the county, the spot I find the most serene, is along this road.

We slowed as we passed the patches of sunflowers and on our way home, traveled down the same road. It was now twilight, a great time for taking photos, so I stopped.

I started shooting photos and then realized the humidity – which was at 92 percent! – was fogging up my lenses. I’d wipe them with the edge of my t-shirt, snap a few more photos, and have to wipe the glass again. Ah, the joys of living in the South, right? Though I was born in California, I’ve spent most of my life in the South and Southeast and humidity is all I know about summer. (What is this dry heat of which you speak, West Coast?)

In the winter we talked about protecting your camera from condensation and cool temps, but now that we’re in the middle of our second heat wave of the season,  it’s time to flip the script and discuss protecting your camera from the sweltering heat and exhaustive humidity.

These are going to be quick-quick-quick tips because they’re common sense but probably need to be said:

1. Don’t store your camera equipment or memory cards in your vehicle, which can heat up to a much higher temperature than the outside temp. Cameras perform best within a certain temperature range, usually from 32-104 degrees; check your camera’s manual for exact specs.

2. If possible, acclimate. Ease your camera into the blistering temps by moving it from the house to the garage, then outside. This will reduce foggy lenses and possible condensation.

3. Use a soft cloth when wiping the fog from your glass so you don’t scratch your lens.

4. Buy and use UV filters over your lenses.

Even thought the humidity was ruining my shots a little bit, I still love the first one. I got lucky with the shot and the processing just added to it. There’s a certain hazy, summertime feel to it, don’t you think?

Beauty's where you find it

Posted on April 23, 2010

Meet Mason, Tennessee. Population: about a thousand, including approximately 200 inmates.

A former railroad town, Mason is now one of those towns that make you think the world is flat. When people leave, they don’t often come back. There is little commerce, save for the super dollar store, gas stations, Christmas Spirits Wine & Liquor and a few other businesses. There’s a fairly new Dollar General store, too.

Mason is also home to world famous restaurants like Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q and Gus’s Fried Chicken – an MMM! on both accounts – and several older churches with beautiful architecture. When Erika and I discussed her bridal and engagement shoot, I knew I wanted some photos in Mason with the beautiful arches at Trinity Episcopal Church.

The church is what locals call “New Trinity” church, even though it was built in the late 1800s. The older version – Old Trinity in the Fields – is equally beautiful, but stays locked up.

The point? The arches are gorgeous. We got some great shots of Erika here as well as some cute couples shots.

I also knew I wanted to try to get some shots with this exposed brick wall. I spotted it one day while interviewing the mayor about infrastructure upgrades and federal grants.

Isn’t it a fabulous backdrop for an urban engagement shoot?

Apparently a store used to occupy this space, though it is now gone. Judging by the debris still remaining, the store had a lot of shoes in its inventory. Oh, and someone nearby sells drugs (see the shoes hanging from the power lines in the upper left?). We decided to opt-out because we have to climb down and into the lot and our shoes weren’t exactly practical, but I still love the wall.

While I was down there scoping out the wall and the church and lighting, I also found some gems I’d never really noticed. I’ve been to Mason plenty of times, but I’d never scouted locations for engagement shoots (as a reporter, we were chasing leads for stories, not scoping out the environment). You really can find some beautiful backgrounds where you least expect it.

Right next to the exposed wall are these painted exteriors. The blue would be PERFECT for a ring-kissing shot we’d planned. It’s actually a hair shop. The green building, I believe, is vacant. I sat Erika and Joshua in front of the teal building and a stripe from her dress just popped in front of that teal paint!

This yellow building is some sort of auto detailing and repair shop and is next to the teal building. We didn’t end up shooting any photos here because the owners were out and washing vehicles, but I’d really like to come back and try some shots here.

And right behind where I was standing when I took this? Railroad tracks. I wanted to try some on the tracks but didn’t know how Erika would respond; I didn’t even have to ask because she brought it up! Love it when that happens. And I love the photos we took on the tracks.

Mason is definitely not an attractive town, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have possibilities. We shot the entire engagement shoot here and came away with some wonderful photos!

Step outside the box once in awhile. As Madonna says, beauty’s where you find it.

Quick Tips: Sunny 16

Posted on April 6, 2010

Spring is finally here and, though it provides an obstacle you have to learn to shoot around, the sun is back and better than ever! Exposure in full sunlight can be tricky and overwhelming, but someone very smart came up with the mnemonic Sunny 16 to help remember recommended aperture settings and shutter speeds.

The Sunny 16 rule is a method of estimating correct daylight exposures without a light meter. Simply put, when it’s sunny, change your aperture to f/16.

Great, now what about the clouds? Glad you asked:

When it’s slightly overcast, f/11.

Overcast? Go with f/8.

And heavy overcast, f/5.6 is your best bet.

A gorgeous sunset that you absolutely must preserve? Your best bet is likely f/4.

Of course, like most of photography, it’s a little more complicated than that.

Choosing a shutter speed

If you are using manual mode, which is usually denoted with an M on the dial of your dSLR, you can also choose your shutter speed. (If you’re working in aperture priority mode, your shutter speed will be chosen by the camera.)

Your shutter speed should be set to the (nearest) reciprocal of your ISO setting.

What this means is if your ISO is set to 100, your shutter speed should be 1/125 (since it’s closest to 100). On a sunny day with your ISO set to 200, your aperture should be set at f/16 and your shutter speed at 1/200 or 1/250.

Your shutter speed can be changed as long as you change your f-stop to compensate for it. For example, f/16 at 1/125 is the same as f/11 at 1/250.

Practice makes perfect

“Sunny 16″ sounds easy, right? Like anything, it takes practice. And you to help you practice, I’m now offering free Quick Tips reference cards! The cards are 2×3.5 inches in size, perfect for on-the-go. The first in the series is the Sunny 16 card, which can be downloaded on the Freebies page.

Did I mention they’re free? Because they are (and free is awesome!). Send yours friends!

Make sure you snag yours and keep coming back for more. I have a neat plan for keeping the cards together and attached to your camera, so make sure you check back for that in the coming weeks.

Quick Tips: Using Macro (for P&S users)

Posted on March 23, 2010

April showers bring May flowers, but we can still practice in March, right?

I shot the photo on the right in May 2006 with my Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2. With its 4 megapixels and 10x zoom, it was a great purchase back in 2004! And I used that camera until it fell apart; towards the end I was holding the battery door closed with duct tape, Band-Aids, anything I could find with adhesive.

That said, I loved the macro option.

Macro is a type of close-up photography that magnifies an image to life-size or larger. The term ‘macro’ is now used loosely, but macro photography captures a subject at at least a 1:1 ratio. Many photographers use macro lenses when they’re shooting photos of flowers, insects, jewelry or even products.

I grew up looking at macro shots of flowers my dad shot when he was stationed in Okinawa. I always loved how sharp the focus was in those photos and the bokeh, which is the blur (or the quality of the blur) in the out of focus areas of an image, was always interesting to me. From those days grew a love for photographing flowers.

In fact, sometimes I buy flowers from the grocery store just so I can bring them home, dress them up and take their picture.

Macro photography with DSLRs often requires a special macro lens, which I can assure you is not inexpensive. But if you have a point-and-shoot, consider yourself lucky! Macro photos aren’t at all difficult. Switch to macro mode – the one usually denoted by a tulip – and start shooting those beautiful blooms!

Here are some quick tips for macro pics:

1. If you can adjust your aperture, do so. The wider your aperture, the better your depth of field; this will blur your background and keep your subject in focus (like the photo on the right). A smaller aperture will keep your background in focus.

2. Steady your camera to keep your subject in focus. If you have a tripod, use it. If not, you can steady the camera on a flat surface. Great advice, I know, but what happens when you want to shoot photos of a flower or a ladybug on a blade of grass and a flat surface isn’t nearby? Use your viewfinder (instead of the preview on your LCD screen on the back of the camera); holding the camera against your face also steadies it.

3. Play with composition and details. Capture different elements of your subject. It is not always necessary to capture your subject in its entirety. If you’re photographing flowers, you can close in on its stigma, stamen and the pollen inside its petals (see above). You know it’s a flower, even though you can’t see the whole thing. Get artistic!

4. Get in closer. Test your camera and see just how close you can get while still keeping your subject in focus.

All of the above photos were taken with a point-and-shoot camera, which is proof that you don’t need an expensive camera to get great photos.

Quick Tips: It's all about the details

Posted on February 9, 2010

When your camera’s in your hand, undoubtedly you want to capture memories. A wonderful day out. A long-awaited event. A child’s milestones. And as you take photos to commemorate these things, are you also capturing the details?

I’m big on details. I want to capture everything, even the little things.

The way a newlywed couple gazes into each others’ eyes, the way they touch lightly and lovingly.

A bride’s flowers, the table settings she’s chosen, the plans she’s been making for months.

Women who still hand quilt.

A convicted murderer apologizing to the victim’s family.

The way a child twirls her hair as she sucks her thumb, a habit her parents may hate but will miss when she’s an adult.

To me, it’s not enough to say a couple is in love, a wedding is beautiful, a titleholder is elegant or a child is sweet; I want to show the ways I know the groom loves his bride, the details that went into making the wedding perfect and fun, whose hands put the quilt together, the way the victim’s father reacted to the apology and what makes the child sweeter than others.

The little things are what make life so memorable, so enjoyable. The same should be true of photographs.

Quick Tips: Sunny Days

Posted on February 2, 2010

My children are adorable, aren’t they? And this photo, well it’s a memento of a great weekend spent with friends and family camping at Hot Springs National Park this past summer – sleeping under the stars with a cool breeze, exploring the creek and its slippery rocks and bonding as a family.

There are wonderful memories attached to this photo, but it isn’t a very good one. The exposure is all wrong.

The sun is behind them so they are not being blinded, but the shadows are too heavy and the highlights too bright. Fixing these mistakes in Photoshop produces a grainy, low contrast image that is poor in quality. It’s quite the disappointment, one I could have avoided if I’d taken a few more second and changed my settings. Read more

Quick Tips: Great Snow Pics

Posted on January 30, 2010

Tomorrow will likely be a snow day across much of the United States, which means those of us in the South (hello, Volunteer State!) and the Southeast (I’m looking at you, Virginia) who rarely see snow will be layering up and heading outside to play.

And many of you will tote a camera with you to capture the nostalgia that is this frozen precipitation.Before you go, check out a few tips for taking photos in the snow:

Charge your batteries
Nothing zaps a battery faster than cold weather! Make sure your batteries are fully charged before trudging out in the cooler temperatures, because once you get all bundled up you probably don’t want to go back in until you’re numb.

Protect your camera
Many photographers recommend protecting your camera from the sleet and snow by putting it inside a plastic zip-top bag. This will prevent your lens and camera body from getting wet; water droplets cause blurry photos and damaged cameras. If you’d like, cut a hole in the bottom of the bag large enough for your lens or lens hood so the plastic doesn’t affect your focus.

Use your camera strap – you’d hate to drop it, especially when it’s snowing.

To reduce condensation in your lens and viewfinder, your camera needs to acclimate. When you’re ready to come back inside, leave it in the garage or in your pocket for 30 minutes, then bring it inside. Unless you are using your camera’s internal memory, you can remove your memory card and download and edit your photos while you wait to bring the camera back inside.

Exposure
Ever notice that our cameras often translate white snow as gray or blue in color on an overcast day? This is because your camera is automatically preventing an overexposure, believing your subject to be an item on the gray scale being brightly lit.

To avoid this, simply adjust your camera’s exposure compensation. Start with +1, then experiment to see which setting (+1, +1.5, +2) works best for your conditions.

Consult your camera’s user manual for directions on making this adjustment, though this is usually labeled in the settings menu or like this: +/-.

Don’t worry if you don’t exactly nail it on the first try, you can always adjust the exposure using photo editing software.

When you’re shooting the requisite photo of your house covered in snow, try to do it as close to mid-morning possible because the colors are more subdued and true. The light can be too bright in full sun or can be too warm at sunset, casting a reddish hue over your subjects.

Use your camera’s built-in flash, even in bright sunlight, for fill flash to reduce shadows over faces.

Other tips
Vivid colors pop against snow. They can also be enhanced using a photo editor.

Use your camera’s action or sports setting when your subjects are sledding or making snow angels. If you don’t, they’ll likely be blurry.

Great creative with different perspectives.

Wear gloves to keep your hands warm; your best bet is thin or fingerless gloves as thick ones will reduce your dexterity and may be slippery on the shutter release button.

Most of all, have fun, stay warm and enjoy the snow! And don’t forget the hot cocoa.

21 Tips for Photographing Babies & Children

Posted on January 30, 2010

In my former life, I had a graphic design business and sold quite a few birth announcements and holiday cards. My customers always asked for photography tips and this is what I whipped up for them. I thought I would bring it out of it’s hiding place and share it again; it’s been five years – for the Internet, this is vintage!

Let’s face it, photographing babies and children is tough! Here are 21 tips to ensure you get the perfect snapshot of your child.

General Photography Tips

1. Use a tripod to steady the camera. This also helps in making sure your photos are in focus.

2. If you are using a digital camera, make sure it is on the highest resolution setting.

3. If you are using a 35mm camera, use 200 speed film. Film that is 400 or 800 speed tends to produce grainy photos.

4. Use natural light, if possible. If you can’t take your photos outside, try to photograph your baby near a window that lets in a lot of sunlight. You can use a mirror to reflect the light if you wish. If these things are not options for you, make sure you have a good flash so your pictures aren’t dark.

5. Get as close as you can, while still keeping the photo in focus.

6. Be as quick as possible. Keep your photo shoot short so you don’t exhaust your baby (or your nerves). Set things up before you put the baby in the photo.

7. Use solid-colored backgrounds or blankets when possible. Remember to keep things simple.

8. Take lots of photos! The perfect photo probably won’t happen immediately.

9. Start by photographing your baby at eye level, then try a few different angles to see what you like best.

10. Make sure your batteries are charged!

11. Keep your camera on you at all times. You never know when the right photo opportunity will arise! Read more