Overview

Learn to create stunning photos of people, in any number of settings, using just a few accessories and your digital camera.

Digital Photography: Take Great People Shots

Together with a few accessories, your digital camera offers a wealth of possibilities for producing some stunning photos of people, in both formal and informal situations.

Not So Formal Portraits

Whether you're holding your camera in natural light or using a tripod coupled with an auxiliary flash, it's easy to get that perfect shot when you know a few tricks.

Here are a few suggestions for informal people photos:

• When shooting indoors, aim the flash at the ceiling. The result is a soft, diffused light surrounding your subject, eliminating the harsh shadows and the chance of red-eye so prevalent with small built-in flashes.
• Window light makes for perfect diffused light. Seat your subject close to a window so the light falls evenly on the person's face. The window should be to one side -- not behind the subject -- so the background is unobtrusive. Use a tripod, shoot lots of photos, and watch for the perfect expression.
• Another aid when shooting by window light is a homemade reflector, which you can make from a piece of white cardboard or other similar reflective material. It should be white so as not to introduce unwanted color. Place your reflector to the opposite side of your subject so light is reflected on the shadowed side of your subject.
• Take photos of your subjects doing things they like to do. This gives your photo composition more interest. A child with a favorite toy is a good example; another is a hobbyist with the tools of his trade, or a grandmother knitting a blanket for a new grandchild.
• When photographing someone, get down to the person's eye level. That way, you're photographing the person straight on and not from an overhead angle.

Get with the Action

Action shots can provide great mementos of happy activities at any stage of life. When family members participate in sporting events, be there with your camera. The little ones can be just as exciting as the pros when it comes to sports, and far more approachable with your camera. Accessories such as telephoto auxiliary lenses and auxiliary flashes help you get the perfect shot.

Here are some tips for capturing that perfect action shot:

• An auxiliary flash, particularly one that's equipped with a zoom flash head, can be useful when photographing sports, especially when action occurs quickly. This flash extends your distance reach and freezes motion, so you're ready to shoot at the peak of action. Before you start, however, remember your distance limits and set a high ISO to extend your available distance.
• When you do set a high ISO, a camera with a fast lens can capture the action without the aid of a flash. This is particularly useful if you can't get close enough for your flash to be effective. Shooting at a speed of 1/250 or 1/500 freezes action.
• Another way to portray action is through a slow shutter speed for intentional blurring. Track your subject by panning the camera so your subject is sharp and the background blurred. Some digital cameras have settings for performing this task without your manual intervention. (Likewise, your camera has a setting to blur the background while showing your subject crisp and sharp.)

The Silhouette

Another interesting technique to explore is the silhouette. You can create a silhouette to convey any subject's character in a unique way. Set your camera on a tripod and pose your subject where light can strike the subject from behind, to create an outline.

An example of a good time and place is on a waterfront at sunset. Watch the reflections and position your subject to take advantage of the natural outline that's often present. You should allow more space in front of your subject than behind, providing more space into which your subject can gaze. Meter-on the light areas so the shaded side goes dark, and then lock your exposure in by pressing the shutter button down halfway, recompose your shot, and you have your silhouette. You can use the same technique for children playing on the beach or just groups of people enjoying a summer evening.

To get the exposure correct, meter-off your background. You can set this exposure into the camera manually or press the shutter button halfway to lock the exposure while you recompose your shot. In this situation, don't use your flash.

Now that you've learned some solid tips for taking better portraits, action shots, and people shots, you're ready to bring out the personality of your subjects and start shooting with confidence!