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How to Be a Photographer at Home

With digital cameras becoming the norm in modern-day photography, becoming an amateur photographer certainly has its appeal. Not only can you take photos of your family that will surely become precious snapshots of happy times but you can also show off your creative talents behind the lens. Regardless if you are using a digital camera or a traditional film camera, learning how to be a photographer at home is a simple click of your camera's shutter button.

Things You'll Need

Digital camera

Instructions

- 1
  Buy a camera, if you do not already have one. As a novice, there is no need to buy a top-of-the-line camera. Even a point and shoot camera can give you good results for your scrapbook or online photo album.
- 2
  Read the manual. Reading about the capabilities your camera has can help you to familiarize yourself with its various features.
- 3
  Choose your background carefully when taking photos. Avoid taking photos of people posed in front of busy or cluttered backgrounds. Choose relatively clean backgrounds with good light. When you cannot avoid taking photos in visually busy situations, move around to find a good position to crop out the clutter in your photo.
- 4
  Use natural light. By using natural light, you can limit the amount of camera equipment you need to purchase or set up. Also, natural light will give your photos more of a natural glow than using conventional flash or lighting equipment.
- 5
  Steady your camera. Although using a tripod is ideal, you may not own one or want to make the investment in this type of equipment. Instead, use what is available to you in your home. Positioning and holding your camera on a table, along a doorway or railing will steady your camera and greatly reduce motion blur when taking photos without a flash.
- 6
  Move around and experiment with different shooting angles. While the natural inclination is to take photographs straight on with your subjects facing you, change your position when you are taking photos --- get down on the ground and shoot up, stand on a chair and shoot down or move to the side.
- 7
  Take candid photos. Not every photo you take needs to be carefully posed. Catch your family members at their best by taking candid photos. During a family gathering or when your kids are playing, quietly get out your camera and begin taking photos. If a family member stops what he is doing and begins to pose, encourage him to continue with the activity at hand.
- 8
  Wait for photo opportunities to present themselves. You may have to wait several minutes before you get the shot you want. After taking your photos, resist the urge to review your work on your camera, as you are using up your battery and more importantly, you may miss more good photo opportunities.

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