1. Top 10 Tips for taking great pictures from www.kodak.com

2. Get Down on Their Level Hold your camera at the subject’s eye level Get down on your knees The subject does not have to look directly at the camera

3. Use a Plain Background Before you click, check the area behind your subject Look out for trees or poles coming out of your subject’s head A cluttered background = distraction

4. Use a Flash Outdoors It can be used as a “fill” It will lighten dark shadows in people’s faces, especially when the sun is directly overhead or behind the subject Even on cloudy days it will brighten faces

5. Move in Close Fill your picture with the subject This will eliminate background distractions and show off subject details Use your camera’s macro setting

6. Take Some Vertical Shots Many subjects look better taken vertically You’ll have to make a conscious effort to do this

7. Lock the Focus Center the subject –Press the shutter button half way Re-frame the picture while still holding down the shutter button –Finish by pressing the button all the way

8. Move it from the Middle Place your subject off-center Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder Place your subject on one of the intersecting lines –Remember to lock your focus!

9. Know Your Flash’s Range Pictures taken beyond the range of your flash will be too dark For many cameras that’s only ten feet Check your camera manual

10. Watch the Light Great light = great pictures People –soft light on a cloudy day; avoid overhead sunlight with harsh shadows Scenes –long shadows and early or late daylight

11. Be the Director Take an extra minute and be more than just a passive picture-taker Add props, rearrange subjects, try different viewpoints Bring subjects together so their personalities shine