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Thanksgiving photos
Thanksgiving! What a wonderful time to take photos of family members and friends. Here are a few tips to help you take memorable pictures that loved ones will thank you for.
Framing a subject
Frame the main subject in the viewfinder, whether it's a family member or the turkey. Watch the background to make sure nothing in it distracts from the subject, or that a chandelier doesn't look like it's growing out of someone's head.
Shoot from a higher eye-level
When taking photos around the table, shoot from a higher level than you usually do. This permits the focus to be on people, and not items on the table. Shoot slightly higher than the eye-level of the tallest person in the scene.
Be a director
Don't hesitate to pose family members for some shots. Suggest to them what to do and where to do it. For natural looking group shots, photograph people while they are talking, not eating.
Room lighting
When lighting is low, turn as many lights on in the room as possible, adjust the white balance setting to match the main source of light and up the ISO . If it's early enough in the day, let outside daylight into the room.
Using the built-in flash
If you use the flash, stay within the recommended flash range. Make sure there is nothing shiny in the background that will reflect the flash back into the camera lens. The flash usually recycles faster when the batteries are fully charged.
Get in some photos yourself
Just because you're the family photographer, doesn't mean you should be left out of pictures. Use a tripod and the self-timer so you can get into the photo. If you don't have a tripod, set the camera on a level surface.
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