Digital Cameras Ratings

Digital Cameras: Getting Better Photos of Family and Friends
By Christine Peppler

Taking photographs of the people in your life is simple with a digital camera. We all have collections of images which represent the important people and events in our lives. Some of the pictures are great, but some leave our subjects stiffly posed, lost in the sea of a cluttered background, and often lacking personality as they stare back with the same "posed" face as in every other photograph. So how do we capture the detail and the personality so that the image saves for us a more meaningful record of a moment or a person?

Obviously, professional photographers take control of the background and lighting, direct the pose of their subjects, and use a great deal of creativity with props and camera controls to assure the highest quality image. For the average person however, candid shots are more effective in capturing the true meaning or personality at a given moment. For these individuals, following just a few basic tips can go a long way in obtaining photographs that will become a treasure for many years to come.

• The subject should be the focus of the picture. Avoid a cluttered background so that it does not distract from the subject. Using the viewfinder allows the photographer to determine how the shot will look. If the background is too cluttered the subject can be moved, but in more candid shots of individuals, holding the digital camera in a vertical position sometimes helps to eliminate some of the background.