Get ready for a series of photography lessons! Even though I’m in the business of taking family photographs — I still want you to be able to capture every day pictures that are beautiful. Because, as moms, I KNOW we take thousands of photographs a year (at least … I hope we do). ; ) And you are probably not going to hire a professional for every event that you want captured. And photographs help preserve memories … and moments …
Here are just a few of my goals:
I’m going to teach you how to get off auto and work towards taking photographs in manual. You will learn about composition, and the rule of thirds and leading lines. You are going to learn how to get away from ‘say cheese’ and get genuine laughter from your kids. Once we get good at learning some basics, I’m going to do the best I can to teach you about exposure and aperture and ISO and metering. There is so much more to photography than just point and shoot.
And eventually I’m going to teach you to take off those mommy goggles and learn how to spot a professional photographer from a fauxtographer (many people refer to them as MWACs … mom with a camera). Don’t get me wrong … I’m a mom and I have a camera … and many photographers are both (so please don’t misunderstand me). The MWAC’s I’m talking about are different … and by the time we get through all these lessons, you’ll know more than the average MWAC!
This is going to be fun … and by December, you WILL notice a HUGE change in your photography!
So — here we go.
Photography Lesson Number 1:
Read your manual. You know, that book you got with your camera? It’s probably still in the box. I know what most of you did … you got a new camera, opened the box, charged the battery, popped it in and immediately turned that switch to auto or one of those dreaded funcitons like ‘sport’ or ‘flower’ or ‘portrait’. Those buttons are just code for ‘auto’.
The camera manual is your friend.
Here’s what I want you to do … before next Tuesday, I want you to sit down with your camera and your beverage of choice, and read your manual cover to cover. Yes. I’m serious. Especially if you got a fancy prosumer camera. If you are using any DSLR and shooting it on auto you are really missing out on what that camera can produce! Auto sucks. There. I said it. I shoot with a Canon Mark iii and those images on auto would suck. Auto makes the flash pop up when it isn’t necessary. Auto is giving the camera all of the control when it doesn’t know ANY of the factors present! Yes — they’d be a bazillion mega-pixels but that isn’t what makes an image awesome. Plus, how many of you really blow up an image to 20X24. I know most of them are still on your computer just ‘waiting’ to get printed. 😉
So … hop to it … because Lesson number 2 we might jump right into aperture (and if you have NO idea what that is … it’s because you haven’t read your manual)! Happy Reading!!
PS: How many of you tried the new iPhone camera apps? And — tell me what you think?!
I took a 2 hour online class from a photographer and immediately learned a ton. I shoot out of Auto ALL the time (not to say all my pics are good, ha) and only put my camera in Auto if someone else is using. Even then I cringe when the flash pops up. BUT with that said, I still cannot wait for your lessons! I feel like I know more than the average MWAC but could still learn about a jillion percent more than I know. I’d love a private lesson someday too, haha.
Ha! You are going to LOVE these lessons especially with a baby on the way! 😉 You should, at the very least, be shooting in Aperture Priority … but don’t worry … that’s next weeks lesson!
I am so excited that you are posting these!! I am in the market for a new camera, I think, and really want to learn to use it better. Right now I am using a Samsung S630 Point and Shoot, which is decent enough. But I do use the AUTO setting and have no idea where the manual is because it was a hand-me-down. :/ Any suggestions on an affordable camera that is relatively simple to learn on and convenient for a busy momma with a 5 year old and a baby?
Hmmmmm. I have a little canon point and shoot (although I still use the manual settings on it. But I’d recommend the basic Canon Digital Rebel. It’s a very good DSLR for a consumer wanting to get better pictures of their kiddos. 🙂
I am still catching up by doing this lesson! bit I hope there will be more! can’t wait!