10 Days of Thoughtful Photos: Day 9

5 Rules of Composition!

(As a side bonus this post covers our TUESDAY Tip also!)

Now, if you are the one taking your holiday photos this year... this might be the most helpful information I can give you! Other then pointing your camera and getting everyone in the frame, there are a couple of tricks that pro's know to create a dynamic image! Composition is a CORE essential when it comes to photography or art of any kind. Understanding some basic "rules" will allow you to capture the right image, rather then trying to create it on Photoshop later.

TRUST ME! You want to save Photoshop for having FUN with your images, not FIXING them!

With that being said. Here are the Rules of Composition.

1. Fill the Frame with your subject. (imagine if Dad was shown... it would really limit what you could see of baby! Plus it would make him look HUGE because she is SO small!)

 #2 If your subject is TALLER then they are WIDE, shoot VERTICAL

#3 If your subject is WIDER then they are TALL shoot horizontally

Note: If you cant get what you need with your camera's zoom or lens, use your physical zoom... YOUR LEGS! Move yourself closer or farther to be able to fit your subject!

#4 Perspective or Viewpoint: Before photographing your subject, take time to think about where you will shoot it from. Rather than shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, change it up!

Angled Down

Standing on a chair leaning over (not for the faint of heart)

#5 Rule of 3rd's: Imagine you have a tic-tac-toe board over your frame. It is separated into 9 equal parts with 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. This rule says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect. Filling either 1/3rd or 2/3s of your frame to do so.

NOTE! Some cameras even offer an option to superimpose a rule of thirds grid over the LCD screen! This is EXTRA handy when shooting anything with a horizon line so you can keep your perspective and horizon straight!