You've put a lot of time into planning a great birthday party for your child, so put some time into planning to get great pictures of the event. As always, start with the basics: Charge your camera's batteries (or insert fresh batteries). Make sure you've got spares in case you run out and have one or more memory cards with space for all of the pictures you plan to take. Also, make sure you know how to operate your camera and set it to the right mode to take the best pictures. If you're too busy to take pictures during the party, assign a trusted friend or family member to act as official photographer. Don't be shy. People are flattered to be entrusted with such a responsibility. If you do ask somebody to take pictures for you, please take the time to explain to them how your camera works.
You can sit down later, choose those images that best tell the story of the
day and decide on a viewing sequence.
Whether it's you or somebody else taking the picture, here are some pointers for getting amazing shots you'll want to look at for years to come:
Get the whole story
There's more to a birthday party than blowing out the candles. Take pictures
of the entire event. Start with the guests arriving and end when they
depart. Think of yourself as a reporter trying to get the whole story. Take
lots of pictures. You can sit down later, choose those images that best tell
the story of the day and decide on a viewing sequence.
Don't just stand outside the action
Get into the heart of the action. Move around. Take pictures from unexpected places. Use unexpected angles. How many times have you seen the same shot of a child about to blow out the candles on her cake, surrounded by family and friends? Have you ever noticed how similar pictures of birthday parties look? There are so many details: the glowing faces of children, the smiles of proud parents and grandparents, the icing on the cake, the lit candles. And yet there's nothing special about such pictures. That's because they're all the same picture. Somebody stands far away from the table, fits everybody else into the picture, centres the image on the birthday girl and snaps a picture. Stepping out of the action means missing out on the details.
The best way to capture the compelling details that make for spectacular pictures is to be part of the action. Being part of the action doesn't mean getting in the way. Try taking a picture while you're standing in the group of friends and relatives behind the child as she's blowing out the candles. If you've set the cake on the living room table for a toddler, get down on your knees and photograph the happy child at her own height, or take a bird's eye shot from above. You can also position yourself next to your child and take her picture in profile rather than getting a face shot.
Birthday Photography Continued: [1] [2]
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Inside Birthday Photography:
This birthday photography tutorial teaches you how to take extraordinary pictures at your next birthday party. You'll learn how to get the whole story, how to move around to get into the heart of the action, how to blend it to get natural shots, why you should avoid having people pose, and how to use your zoom lens to capture the moment. You'll also learn how to get everybody at the party involved and how to create great keepsakes for your guests.
To make the most of your birthday photographs, Black's recommends:
Compact Cameras
8x - 10x optical zoom to get really close to the action from wherever you
are.
Digital SLRs
High speed memory for faster shooting speed.
Zoom Lens to get close to the action.
Accessories
Spare batteries. With so much going on, one set of batteries may not last
you for the entire event.
Processing
A custom t-shirt is a great memento of the special day and makes a wonderful gift for loved ones.
Other Photo Tutorials:
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