There are many qualities that continually set apart a professional, sought-after professional photographer from the competition. But one very important quality is the ability to see important, story-telling details in a scene.
So why is it important to take photographs of details? Because it allows the person viewing the finished photo to tell their own story and complete the whole picture. When we see a photo of a person’s face, not much else is left to the imagination. We already know exactly what that person looks like, how old they are, what kind of smile they have, etc. But when we see a pair of tiny feet splashing through a puddle, or see wrinkled hands holding an old book, our mind immediately begins to imagine and expand the story. We can imagine that the feet belong to a strong-willed, carefree child, breaking free from the indoors to enjoy the puddles outside. Or we can image that the hands belong to a great-grandmother who has served many people over the years.
As with any photo, there’s no one right way to take detail shots. But there are a few tricks to keep in mind to get the best photo possible and stretch your creativity.
- Get in as close as your lens will allow. Many professional photographers will invest in wide-angle or macro lenses in order to take great detail shots. These types of lenses allow you to get in really close and get amazing detail and clarity.
- Consider your angle. For example, I love to take pictures of feet but will oftentimes struggle with the angle of the shot. Do I have the person stand or sit? Do I take the picture from above or at ground level? Do I take it from the side or the front? Consider what the most interesting, story-telling angle will be and then try several different ones. There’s no reason to commit yourself to just one particular angle.
- Let your subject be natural, especially when photographing kids. A lot of times I want to get a shot of my kids running and playing, and usually that’s not a hard thing to do when I’m taking a photo of the whole scene. But when I want a photo of little feet running, or busy hands playing, then that movement is hard to freeze. Just make sure you’re using a lot of natural light and a fast shutter speed, and keep on trying until you get the right shot.
- Learn to see details, even without your camera. Many times I’ll watch a person doing something and think, “Wow, I love how her hands move as she knits,” or, “Look how tiny his feet are next to mine.” Everyone notices those types of things, but not everyone thinks to capture those moments with a photo. Try to always keep your camera close by and ready to go so that when those precious fleeting moments arise, you’re able to take a picture before the moment is gone.
Want to see more of Elisha’s work? Check her out on Instagram at @elishasnowphotography or her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/elishasnowphotography
GIVEAWAY - DAY 8!!!
As we continue into the second week of celebrating all our industry partners, we are thrilled to be featuring Lawn Fawn today! We adore their very creative coordinating stamps and dies not to mention their sweet paper collections, ink pads, twine and more! Armed with a very talented design team, Lawn Fawn continues create beautiful products and inspiration you'll want to check out! And today, maybe you could win some!
Our sweet friends at Lawn Fawn loved that they were featuring them today and have provided this very lovely prize to thank YOU, the SCT reader, for all your support! It's take a village right? Look at today's giveaway...
How sweet are these fish and THAT crab?! For an opportunity to win today's prize, be sure to leave a comment below by September 2nd! Winners will be randomly selected and announced on September 4th. Good luck!
Once you've left your comment, we would love it also if you could take a moment to tank our friends at Lawn Fawn (pun intended!) on their facebook page HERE. All our partners have loved hearing from you!!! You can also find Lawn Fawn:
On their website: Lawn Fawn
On their blog: Lawn Fawn
On Facebook: Lawn Fawn
On Pinterest: Lawn Fawn
On Instagram: @lawnfawn
On YouTube: Lawn Fawn
So you have our full permission to drop what you're doing (unless you're holding a child or eggs!) and spend some time checking out Lawn Fawn. We're pretty confident it will make you'll feel inspired to create a sweet card or project today!
~ Catherine, Publisher, Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine
Love these photography tips--I always struggle with taking great pictures! Today's giveaway is awesome--lawn Fawn always has such cute products! thanks for the chance!
Posted by: Laura Turcotte | August 10, 2015 at 04:11 PM
Your photos are beautiful. I always try to catch the little things too when possible. Thank you Lawn Fawn for your fun stamp and die sets. They are adorable.
Posted by: Helen | August 10, 2015 at 04:17 PM
Lawn Fawn has the cutest things! Just Fintastic! Tanks so much!!! LOL
Posted by: Sandy Ross | August 10, 2015 at 04:30 PM
Oh do I love this cute little Lawn Fawn set. I always wanted fish and an aquarium when I was little but the fish never lasted...so sad. If I had this Lawn Fawn set my fish and aquarium would last forever! I also loved all the fun photo tips because I have 2 little girls who are my favorite subjects. Thanks for the chance to win
Posted by: shartl | August 10, 2015 at 04:43 PM
Thanks for the photo tips :) And thanks too to Lawn Fawn for the fab giveaway!
Posted by: Lynne in NI | August 10, 2015 at 04:51 PM
I can certainly use all the photography tips I can get! Thanks!
Posted by: justasiam | August 10, 2015 at 04:51 PM
ADORABLE DIE/STAMP SET!
LOVING THE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS TOO!
Posted by: Kelly A. Crowl | August 10, 2015 at 04:53 PM
Love Lawn Fawn
Posted by: Joana Carrilho | August 10, 2015 at 04:56 PM
I have several lawn fawn stamps but i need this one too
Posted by: Leonor Carrilho | August 10, 2015 at 04:56 PM
Lawn Fawn is great. I love how well their dies work and this set is adorable. Thanks for the photography post, too. Good food for thought.
Posted by: Kendra | August 10, 2015 at 05:06 PM
I love Lawn Fawn. Their stamp and die sets are so darn cute!
Posted by: Sandy | August 10, 2015 at 05:13 PM
Darling stamp set. I love the little fishies!
Posted by: Stacy S | August 10, 2015 at 05:14 PM
Lawn Fawn is my most favourite stamp company. I have been coveting the Fintastic Friends set for a while now, I would be more than thrilled to win one of the cutest sets they have ever made! Thanks for the chance to win, Lawn Fawn ROCKS!!!
Posted by: KariLynn L | August 10, 2015 at 05:21 PM
I just love Lawn Fawn products - it would be fintastic if i won this set.
Posted by: heather Wehrli | August 10, 2015 at 05:26 PM
Love love the stamp die sets!!!
Posted by: Dayna Dovich | August 10, 2015 at 05:26 PM
How incredibly adorable is this set? So cute! Thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: Cammy Wall | August 10, 2015 at 05:30 PM
What a great prize! I know exactly who I would give a card like that to.
Posted by: Alma D | August 10, 2015 at 05:35 PM
I love any stamp set with sea animals. Cute set to work with !! I have a 7 month old Granddaughter who made the cutest mermaid in a photo shoot last week in Galveston, Texas. Great tools to make a wonderful scrapbook layout.
Posted by: Carol Meadows | August 10, 2015 at 05:35 PM
I love lawn fawn and follow they all over they place. Tanks for the chance to win this awesome prize.
Detail shots are so cute with little kids but the tweens that's all you can get sometimes. They go from camera shy to camera surly at that age.
Posted by: Katie Bolinger | August 10, 2015 at 05:41 PM
I love Lawn Fawn and have preordered several sets, this one is adorable
Posted by: Carol Newman | August 10, 2015 at 05:41 PM
Like your products.
Posted by: Lynn Erb | August 10, 2015 at 05:43 PM
Thank you for the photo tips and the chance to win this great stamp set and dies!!
Posted by: Pam Young | August 10, 2015 at 05:58 PM
hello.. love this set
Posted by: Nancy Rose | August 10, 2015 at 06:01 PM
Lawn Fawn has such cute stamps and dies! This fish is perfect for our fishing adventures at the cottage! Love the photo tips!
Posted by: Jean Marmo | August 10, 2015 at 06:01 PM
Great photography tips, and that stamp set is adorable! Thanks for the chance!
Posted by: Mai | August 10, 2015 at 06:09 PM