How to get ideas for picture taking

Taking pictures is a favorite pastime of many people and it can also save you money. If you have kids or just like to take pictures you can learn a lot from local photographers and also find great spots to take your own pictures. With a decent camera and know how you can take great pictures of wildlife or your kids in great poses that will look like they were professionally done but at a fraction of the cost.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• internet access
• computer
• camera
• car
• kids (optional)

1. The first step is to do some research. Get on your computer and search on Google or your favorite search engine for local photographers. Type in the city and state you live in as well as the word photographer. You should then find a list of local photographers in your area. Click on the ones that interest you and open them into a new window.

2. Next, spend some time browsing the websites. Most photographers websites will have links to their gallery of pictures or examples of their work. If you are interested in nature then click on the appropriate link. If you have children, then look at the link for kids photos. Most of the time you will probably recognize the location that the photographer has taken a photo, if not you can ask them where the location is or just take ideas from the styles of the photos. For example: if you see a picture of a child walking on a railroad track in black and white and love the photo, then recreate it. Take your child to a railroad you know of ( course be careful and watch for trains) and then take pictures. You can have the photos changed to black and white when you print them or if you have that feature on your camera then use it when you take the pictures.

3. Next you can take down notes of the pictures you like and try to recreate them. Its really fun to see new and different ideas and to try them for yourself. You may be surprised at what you come up with.

Tips & Warnings

• Use sheets or fabric to create back drops for your photographs. You can hang them from curtain rods or just tack them up on the wall or other surface.
• Use different types of props to get the effect you would like in your pictures. You would be surprised at what you may have around the house that you can use.
• Never completely copy someone else's work. Try to be original but use inspiration from other peoples creativity.

[Sumia]

on 10/24/2008 good tips =)

[Elizabethknows]

on 7/1/2008 these are great tips.

[vallain]

on 5/21/2008 I love photography and appreciate this idea. 5 stars