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To get the best pictures for your scrapbooking album, you need to keep a few things in mind before you take the pictures.
- Keep replacement batteries in your camera bag for your flash and/or or camera itself. If at any time you will be storing your camera for more than a week, remove the batteries to prevent drainage and corrosion.
- It's a good idea to also carry a lens cloth with your camera also. If your camera is in use frequently, it will most definitely pick up specks or fingerprints. Keeping your lens clean is essential for good pictures.
- Keep your camera loaded. Always have extra film on hand. Check your supply often and stock up before you go on vacations or to any special occasion.
- Getting close to the person you are taking a picture of is very important for good pictures for your scrapbooking album. This eliminates a lot of unwanted backgrounds and foregrounds in your pictures. When looking through your viewfinder, always check to make sure that the shot doesn't cut out anything you want. Be sure that the tops of heads are in the picture and that the center is centered in the shot and not necessarily on someone's face.
- Get the best lighting and angle possible. You'll want to make note of where the sunshine and shadows fall. Be sure bright lights, such as the sun, are in front of your subject and not behind or else your subject will be overcast with shadows.
- Don't try to jump in and snap pictures when you know that they won't turn out clear and focused. Wait for the right moment. You'll be happier with your pictures. A well taken photo of a good subject is better than a blurry, half-picture of the perfect subject.
- Don't let your scrapbooking become monotonous by only displaying horizontal photographs. Take some vertical pictures as well. Vertical pictures are perfect for cropping to ovals. You may even want to play with angle pictures. You can be just as creative with taking your pictures as with scrapbooking your pictures. Sometimes you may want to take pictures of reflections... people in mirrors, or reflections in the water.
- Your camera is a vital part of your scrapbooking. To avoid blurred pictures, handle your camera with care. In preparation of taking a picture, have your index finger positioned lightly on the shutter button. Then you can gently push the button without any sudden movements that might cause your camera to be jarred. Jarred, blurred pictures are not very useful when scrapbooking.
- When possible, set up and use a tripod. This allows you to get into the picture if you have a self timer. Nobody said you can't be in your scrapbook.
- Your flash allows you to get those great colors that you love for your scrapbooking! It gives the extra light that is needed for indoor shots. It fills shadows for lighter pictures and it brightens colors in outdoor pictures.
- There are several measures that can be taken to reduce red eye. First, increase the overall light in the room. Turn on some lights or position your subjects in a brighter area.
- Tell whoever is in your photos not to look directly at the flash. Looking at the flash provides a direct path for the light of the flash to reflect of the pupils, which causes red eye. You don't want redeyed people in your scrapbook!
- If your flash allows it, turn it away, so that it indirectly faces those in your pictures.
- Also, if your camera has a red eye setting, turn it on whenever you are taking pictures of people.
- There are many factors that determine which film speed is best. 35mm film is available in several different speeds, such as: 100, 200, 400, and so on. These numbers are referred to as the ISO. The basic differences between these speeds are the films' sensitivity to light. The lower the number, the less sensitive it is, therefore the more light it needs. For example: 200-speed film is great for outdoor pictures and 400-speed film or higher is needed for indoor photos without the flash. Action photos require 400 or 800-speed film for the best results.