How to Capture The Moment In Your Photos

By Jennifer Thompson

The holidays are coming up, meaning tons of photo opportunities. My aunt is the photographer in our family and she loves taking pictures of us eating. I don't mean with our mouths full, I mean with our mouth wide open getting ready to take a bite out of that turkey leg. How humiliating, but she has mastered capturing the moment of us looking like vultures.

I, on the other hand, have always loved taking pictures. My favorite pictures are the ones of my kids sleeping, they're so surreal. Motherhood is the highlight of my life and I want to capture every moment of it. My pictures never seem to meet my expectations. I wanted to take better quality photos, so I could learn how to 'capture the moment'. I did some research and lots of practice!

First and foremost, you need a good understanding of your camera and its abilities. I don't know about your camera, but mine came with a 200+ page manual, a little overwhelming, to say the least. I suggest starting with the settings and testing them in different types of light, with and without using the flash. Knowing which setting to use and whether or not to use the flash is key. Using natural light is best. Take photos in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sunlight is more flattering. Too much light may cast shadows, so you may want to use the flash to eliminate natural shadows, like a nose.

Apply the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is more of a guide than a rule. It's basically dividing an image into nine equal parts creating horizontal and vertical balance. Just imagine that your photo is a tic-tac-toe board. By positioning your focal point at the intersections of the tic-tac-toe board you will create more professional-looking and intriguing photos. For example, when photographing landscapes, use the horizontal grid lines to place the sky or water horizons and when photographing people, place their eyes at the horizontal and vertical intersections. The vertical grid lines are guidelines for things that are taller than they are wide like people, waterfalls and skyscrapers. Keep the rule of thirds in mind while experimenting with some of your current photos. Open them with a photo editing program and crop them to see what impact it might have on your photos.

Be sure you're on the same level as your subject. Don't be afraid to take a few steps forward, having your subject fill most of the frame helps capture emotion that you wouldn't have noticed farther away. This allows you to get up-close and personal, to capture more of your focal point than the background. Also, you want to be aware of what's going on in the background in your pictures. Make sure it's not too busy. Shoot at the highest resolution available. If you want to print your images or enlarge a part of the image, you'll get the best results from a larger file.

Last, but not least, have fun and take tons of photos. Have your camera ready at all times. The more photos you take, the better your chances are of "capturing the moment". Expect to only have a couple of great shots for about every 30 pictures that you take. Be sure to use rechargeable batteries. We have an extra set so we can take pictures while the other set is charging. Oh yeah, don't forget to have enough memory capacity for all the pictures you're going to be taking.

Now is the time to practice your photo techniques, so you'll be ready for the holiday hustle and bustle.

Jennifer Thompson would like to inspire and enrich your digital scrapbooking experience. Scrap! by Penelope & Simon is a place where you can find tutorials, tips & tricks, product reviews, inspiration, how-to guides and the latest news in digital scrapbooking. We're here to provide a safe and secure place where you can share your ideas, experiences, techniques and your favorite shops. Our goal is to become the #1 information source and community for all your digital scrapbooking needs.

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