Memories are really important for special events and with the technology we now have available there is now no excuse to not have any great mementos of that important day. From weddings to graduations, why not create the perfect gift for someone by capturing the event in a photo book. Photo books are a stylish and modern alternative to the photo album and allow you to present your precious photos in a new and professional way. Here we look at some basic photo tips, so you can fill your photo book with great shots!

1) When taking pictures of pets or children, get down to their eye level to take the picture. This works especially well with pets because you can capture their magnetic gazes and smiles. You don't have to capture them necessarily looking directly into the camera, as the angle alone will create an inviting feel.

2) A plain background is quite good for creating a focus of your subject; look out for trees and other objects that may look like they are growing from your subject's head. A cluttered background distracts from your main subject.

3) Even when you are outdoors use a flash to improve your pictures, especially on sunny days to remove those dark shadows that may be on the face. A blue sky will look impressive when it's printed for photo books.

4) For small objects such as flowers, use the macro mode to get sharp focus close up. A photo with a lot of impact can be created when you zoom into your subject.

5) Many subjects look far better in a vertical picture; don't forget to take pictures from both positions to see what looks better.

6) Lock your focus when you take your pictures of off-centre subjects. Centre the subject, press the shutter button half way down the re-frame your picture (whilst still holding the shutter) and then finish by pressing the button all the way down.

7) Know how far your flash can take pictures, as too far your subject will look dark and grainy; for photo books you want bright and sharp images.

Good light will produce amazing pictures so study the different effects you get in certain lights. For scenic pictures use the long shadows and colours of early and late in the day light.

9) Lastly, don't be a passive photographer, be creative and direct your images, rearrange your subjects and bring in props. Then if you decide to create photo books for your pictures you will be impressed with how professional they end up looking!

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the engineering industry.
Find out more about Photo Books and how the services available can help with creating gifts with your photos.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Photography. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.