Are You Filling Your Frame?by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 22 Jan 2008 07:57 PM When you are photographing people the most useful tip you can employ is to get closer. You want to fill the frame with just your subject's face. (Unless you are trying to document a particular outfit such as a uniform or wedding dress.) It seems easy enough, but most amateur photographers forget to (or are afraid to) use all the space in your photo. I am guilty of not getting closer to my subjects. I think I am close enough, but when I look at the final photo I realize I could have gotten even closer. If you are taking a picture of two or more people ask them to stand or sit closer together so there is less wasted space, then you should get as close as possible to eliminate any distractions that might be in your shot. To help even out the shot make sure you have your flash turned on, even when you are outdoors. You want to highlight your subjects face and you will need the flash to fill in any dark areas. To further help fill your frame do some reading on forms. Understanding forms in your photos is a vital aspect to capturing your subject in the best possible light. Instead of simply looking at your subject and seeing it as a static object walk around it, examine it, look at its shape and its form and find the best angle to photograph it from. Finally, don't be lazy--study your camera's manual. Many owners flip through their camera manuals when they initially buy their devices and turn to them again when they are having a problem. I would highly recommend taking time to thoroughly examine your manual. Often manuals include tips on how to take better photos. At the very least it provides ways you can enhance your shots by using the camera's features. For if your digital camera has a special nighttime mode, read the manual and follow their instructions on how to use it properly. Or learn how to properly employ your camera's zoom so you can fill your frame with as much of your subject as possible. Related Articles: Knowing When to Zoom and Other Photo Tips Getting Your Kids to Smile... for the Camera More Tips On Photographing Newborn Babies Photography Potpourri----NO To "Cheese" and YES to Hats Telling A Story With Your Shots More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags filling the frame, framing shots, photo tips, photography Discuss this article
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