Dec

10

Smile everyone! Look happy! It’s a Birthday Party!

Filed Under Family 

By Barry Mcgee

It’’s hard to attend a birthday party without someone taking photos of you. And if you'’re the one taking photos, it’’s almost impossible to get really good photos, especially when the kids or adults are hyped up on a sugar rush after eating birthday cake and ice cream and downing five gallons of fruit punch.

But there are some tricks of the trade that professional photographers use all the time to help you improve your photos.

Before we go too far into photo techniques, we want to share one of the coolest ideas for new parents to have. If you want to have a set of photos that will be the envy of all your friends and look great on the wall, even when your children have children of their own, here’’s what you do.

Choose a place in the house that you can use year in and year out. One of the best places is in the yard, near a small tree. Each year, on your child’’s birthday, have them pose for a portrait. Be sure to shoot just their shoulders and head - the point of emphasis is on the face. Now, get a special frame made that has 18 or 21 ovals, depending on how many years you want to do this. One photo for each year.

Over time, people can see your child growing right before their eyes. Moreover, if you take a photo in front of the tree, imagine how big the tree will look behind them in 18 or 21 years.

Now onto some techniques:

Shooting groups.

No matter how hard you try, someone’’s eyes will always be closed in a group birthday photo. Here’’s what you should do. Tell everyone to close their eyes and keep them closed until the count of three. On the count of four, take the photo. Everyone’’s eyes will be open and adjusted by adding that extra second and no one will be blinking.

Get up close and personal.

Don'’t be shy about getting close ups of the action. Photos that are taken far away don'’t make the best use of the flash capabilities, so the images won'’t pop with color. Also, you'’re missing the expressions of the individuals since there are too many distractions in the frame.

Take lots of photos.

Professional photographers may take 10 to 20 photos for every one you see. They want a lot of choices so they can edit their way down to the few that tell the story.

Tell a story.

Again, professional photographers tell a story with their photos. Become a journalist when you'’re at a birthday party. Tell the story of the party from your point of view. The result will be far more interesting images.

Anticipate the moment.

Finally, anticipate everything. When someone is about to blow out the birthday candles, start shooting. Shoot before, during and after the moment. You can always choose the best shot later. But you can'’t recreate the moment that has just passed.

About The Author

Barry Mcgee writes articles on birthday party and gift ideas and all things related to birthdays. You can read more of Barry’’s articles at HappiestBirthday.com

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