The Subject you are photographing:

This is one of the most important things to remember. The photographer should fill the picture with the subject, not the background. The people are there to see the subject whatever it may be… a man, a woman a couple whatever. Learn how to turn your camera for vertical shots. If the subject is standing, this is a vertical shot. If the subject is lying down that is a horizontal shot like landscape. These being the basically best effects and its so basic I wonder why I mention it here...


Don't skimp on Quality:

Some people do not take the time to set the resolution to HIGH or BEST. By taking pictures at a lower resolution, you may be able to get more pictures to the card, however you will not be getting the best quality that your camera has to offer. Why spend the money on a decent camera if you are not going to utilize what it has to offer? If any of you take pictures to send to us make sure they are shot with high resolution (not good or better). Send them to us right out of the camera. For those of you who have to use a 35mm ensure you have enough lighting and once again make sure you fill the viewfinder with your subject, not a lot of meaningless background.


Poses:

DO NOT LOOK INTO THE CAMERA IN EVERY PICTURE!!:
By all means make sure that your subject is not looking right into the camera on every shot. When I was doing photo shoots, I'd strived to get no more then 20-25% of the pics where the lady was looking directly into the camera.


Lighting:

This is the most difficult part of any picture taking, however it is the most important. Make sure that you have enough lighting. Incandescent lights will make many, if not all of your pictures have a yellowish tint. For my photo shooting, (using my Nikon) I use a bounce flash. I bounce the light off the ceiling at a very slight angle toward the subject. Make sure your lighting is not behind your subject! Never shoot with sunlight, open or uncovered window or other bright lighting behind the subject. The only exception to this is natural daylight which is the very best lighting, and if used wisely (and behind the photographer) can do much to improve the quality of the picture. Experiment, Experiment, Experiment. That is the beauty of using a digital camera, you can see the picture almost right away instead of waiting for pictures to be developed. I use the Vivitar 285HV flash because I can adjust the flash from 1/16th to ½. Outside shooting can be even more frustrating. Always shoot with the sun on the subject, not coming from behind the subject. Early morning and late afternoon afford the best outdoor lighting, making colors even better. Noon time or mid-day, is the absolute worst time to try outdoor shooting.


Backgrounds:

Straighten up the shooting area. After all if you’re shooting in your home do you want people to think you live like a slob? I have seen many pictures that were great shots except that they had clothes strewn all over the floor and everywhere else. Also, instead of blurring the pictures, take them off the wall and off the shelves. Blurring is tacky. Constantly be aware of what is in the background.


Don't Try to Be Too Cute:

Innovation, creativity and experimentation can be good, but only after you have mastered the basic art of producing quality pictures. In other words, stay the hell away from special effects like sepia, gray scaling, bordering and other things your li’l mind may try to dream up in an attempt to make your pictures look different from everybody else’s. LEARN THE BASICS and perfect them. Different is rarely better. Concentrate on producing the finest quality pictures you can and this can only be attained by practice, practice, practice


KB Size:

Of pictures is very important on the Net. Every server has what is called “bandwidth” considerations. The larger the KB size of your pictures the more bandwidth they eat up, costing your server money. Things that greatly contribute to high KB size are: blades of grass, trees, dirt, patterns on bedspreads, couches, chairs, walls. Have as little as possible in the picture with your subject.