How many of birthday party pictures you've seen are kept just because they are of someone's birthday, not because it is inherently a terrific photograph?When was last time you heard anyone exclaim: “THIS IS REALLY A GREAT BIRTHDAY PHOTO?” Can you say… NEVER?
And yet, birthday parties are happening ALL THE TIME. You would think that "practice makes perfect," wouldn’t you; but in this case... uh-uh, it apparently doesn’t.
So, here we are, with another important birthday party looming on horizon and not knowing how to improve on past “how hum” photographs. NOT THIS TIME! Follow following 11 tips and you will need to start getting used to being asked to photograph OTHER PEOPLE’S birthday parties.
Can’t-Miss Birthday Party Photo Tips
1) Prepare For Party
Abraham Lincoln once remarked that if you’re going to cut down a tree, spend 90% of your time sharpening axe. Preparation makes any activity go better. And for birthday parties, you don’t want to have to wait until next year to make up for lack of preparation, do you?
So, what should you prepare for?
KNOW THE LOCATION. Whether party takes place in a home, party room, or amusement park; realize that each location has its own photographic "blueprint." Based on location’s blueprint, prepare beforehand for correct digital camera settings for white balance, metering mode, and exposure compensation.
2) Know Your Obstacles
What is going to be in your way at birthday party (excluding your drunken brother-in-law)? Are there any fixed columns, hanging plants or lights that need to be planned around? For example, if there is a fixed object right where optimal photos should be taken from, consider setting up main table someplace else. It’s much easier to figure this out before event than getting to party and realizing that you need to “move room a bit to left.”
3) The Main Table
If using rectangular tables, take birthday party pictures FACING THE WIDE END OF THE RECTANGLE. When doing this, use wide angle setting on your camera. If you shoot any birthday photos from narrow end, use as large an F-stop number as possible (optimally F-22 or higher). However, even if you do, some of guests will probably still be out of focus (hence, "shoot from wide end" suggestion).
4) Flash Decisions
Don’t automatically assume you should use camera’s flash all time. If your camera has a “hot shoe” (this and many other useful terms are defined at http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/compare-digital-camera-features.html ). If it does, consider using a bounce flash or a diffuser.
As a real eye-opener, find out how high your ISO setting can go and see if resulting photos are not too “noisy” (digital noise = film grain)
5) Better Safe than Sorry
Take multiple shots of critical photographs. Consider flash/no flash; different metering modes, and different F-stops. Also, regardless of what you say or do, people will blink. And, by way, don't count on spotting small problems on tiny camera LCD screen (even on full magnification).