This week I have another great tip for quickly improving the composition of your photos. This tip works especially well for portraits, and it’s very simple. 

Get closer. 

If you want to take better portraits of your kids or just about anything, this is one simple rule to follow.  When most people take a photograph, all they are thinking about is capturing that person or object, and in their mind they are thinking that the more of that person they capture, the better!  But to make a truly captivating photograph you can’t capture it all. You have to choose what it is about the person (or object) you’d like to capture and then fill the frame with it. It’s all about focus. Here’s an example.  

The first photograph looks like a simple snapshot of two kids. It’s cute, but there is no clear focus and there is a lot of empty space. There’s nothing special about this photo.

How could I improve this shot? By focusing on the child who is being more active and engaged and focusing on that great look on his face!   In the second shot I’ve gotten closer and have a much more interesting photograph that you just can’t help but have a reaction to when you see it!  

There is a second way to achieve this same outcome without getting closer to your subject (but this also depends on your camera equipment). The second way is to extend your focal length and “zoom in” on the subject. You may think that this gives you the same result as simply stepping closer, but there are some subtle and not so subtle differences that this makes in your photography. Next week I will discuss focal length and explain how it affects your photographs.