5 Tips for Taking Great Family Snapshots
With cameras so handy on every phone these days, the opportunity to capture that special moment is almost always within arm’s reach. How do you take advantage of this convenience and make the most of this opportunity? Here are 5 things to consider as you pull out your phone to snap the unforgettable moment.
1. Flash - If possible don’t use the flash. There are 2 problems with the built-in flash on your phone’s camera. First, it’s small. When the light source is small and bright it creates hard shadows or shadows that have crisp edges. Ideally, you want soft shadows or shadows that you can’t tell where their edge is, they fade in softly. To get soft shadow you need a large light—the bigger the light is compared to the subject, the softer and more flattering the shadows. So, because the camera has a very small light, you will always get those undesirable hard shadows. The second problem is that the light is right next to the lens, so the light comes at the subject straight on. This is an issue because if you are taking a picture of your child, the flash will create those undesirable hard shadows in the most undesirable areas, for example, under the chin, and nose and creates a hard shadow on the wall behind. It also will create the effect known as red eye; this is from the light shining straight into the eyes at the same angle as the lens lighting up the inside of the eye. Most phones and cameras have features to reduce this effect, but if it is not turned on or the camera does not sense it, you will still end up with red eyes. So, if possible, find natural light to use, such as light from a window, or just the room lights.
