You know you want to take great portraits like this one.
We all like pretty pictures, and we all like to be in pretty pictures. The camera that you’ve got probably has dozens of shooting modes that you’ve never used before. One in particular that we’ll be using is the Portrait mode, because we know you love taking self portraits to add to your Facebook album.
Step 1: Select Portrait Mode
If you’re like me, you probably didn’t know the difference between this mode and any other mode. Here’s the simple explanation: your camera will automatically select a large aperture (the opening of the lens) which keeps your background out of focus. That means you, or your subject, will be the star of the shot, and not that random person walking across the street.
Step 2: Zoom In
Experts recommend doing this to the max, saying that this will make the background blur even more, therefore making you stick out like a cutout in a popup book. Important note: DO NOT use digital zoom. In fact, never use digital zoom. Optical zoom is real zoom – tweaking the lens to achieve greater detail. Digital zoom is facilitated by computer software, resulting in a very noisy image – very grainy and unsightly. You can usually turn digital zoom off in your camera settings.
Step 3: Flash! (The Camera! Not You!)
Force your camera to use its power of illumination – it does wonders to reduce those dark shadows on your face that might be misconstrued as dark eye circles. Also adds a shine to your eyes, thus becoming a very inexpensive alternative to makeup. Get more light by stepping into the great outdoors. Try taking pictures with the source light behind – but not directly behind – the subject.
Step 4: Frame Your Shot
You don’t need to take the entire length of the body. Sometimes the face is all you need, and all you want, really. Compose your shot by moving around after maximizing your zoom. Remember you want the contrast between the subject and the background. If you want one of those professional pictures where people seem to laugh so naturally, try pulling a funny face before you depress the button entirely.
If you did everything right, you should get a picture like this:
Scream! It's Harry Shum Jr!
If not, continue practicing, Chinese New Year is still a few days away.
We want pretty pictures! http://t.co/xcG9QFhg
Getting Your Cameras Ready for Chinese New Year – http://t.co/XWOA3XDk http://t.co/ryaruj4P