Ever looked back through your photo album and wondered why some pictures were ever taken or what the purpose was behind a particular picture? Ever seen a picture where what should have been the main focus was too small or dwarfed by too much “business” by the surroundings?  Taking great pictures may seem like a huge feat, but in reality even a beginning novice can take remarkably good pictures; all you need is a few pointers.

The first tip to taking great pictures is to always make sure that you get the person’s feet in there. Sounds silly, but it isn’t. Nothing is worse than to see a picture of someone who is cut off at the knees with a hundred feet of sky above their head. Get the person’s feet in the picture and then get a few feet of sky. This little tip will make an average so-so picture into a real “keeper.”

The second tip to taking great pictures is to off set the target in the frame just a little. Instead of centering in on the person you are taking a picture of, have the person off-center just a little, keeping in mind that you have captured their feet, and leave a little scenery off to the left or right. This makes for a very nice picture.

Third, don’t be too shy. Sometimes people tend to think they have to get the whole person in the picture. With digital photography today you can take unlimited pictures with no worries—if you don’t like them just delete them. So, get a little “up close and personal” with your target using the zoom. A great head and shoulder shot, capturing a candid laugh makes for very memorable pictures.

Following these three simple steps will turn you from an average and boring picture taker to one that really knows how to capture the moment. Visit these other sites under “Related Interest” on the left-hand side of this page to find some great how-to’s for taking some great photography.