Summer is a great time to take photographs. It’s (hopefully) sunny and warm, giving you opportunity to capture shots that aren’t really possible the rest of the year. However, there are some important things to consider in order to get the best from your summer photos…
Be mindful of where the Sun is
If you’re taking photos in the summer then there’s a good chance there’ll be more sun and this can have a big effect on the images. Have your subject positioned with the Sun behind them will cause them to silhouette and you might not be able to make out their face. Conversely, having them facing the Sun will light up their face but could cause them to squint. Try to ensure your subject is at an angle to the Sun or take the photos in some shade to reduce both these issues.
Still use the flash
It might make sense to not use your camera’s flash when it’s sunny, but it can still serve a purpose. The Sun will cast shadows, which can be problematic of they fall on your subject’s face; using a filler flash will help keep those shadows at bay and ensure that you have more than one source of light. Obviously it’s best to play around with flash settings to ensure you get the best results. Jessops has some decent external flashes if you want to experiment more with different lighting.
Experiment with different times of the day
Summer is one of the most versatile times to take photos due to the long days, so try taking your photographs at the different times of the day and see what results you get. For example, taking pictures in the middle of the day will produce brighter photos with shorter shadows, whereas evening photographs will be much softer in terms of light.
Get the kids playing and messing around
An endless source of great photos during the summer is to get the kids involved. Get them playing and messing around in the garden and you’ll get some fantastic shots. You may need to change the settings on your camera, however, and go for a fast shutter speed to reduce blurriness. Some cameras also have a ‘sports mode’ that takes multiple photos in quick succession, and this is a great way of capturing the perfect photo.
If you’re struggling to get a decent photo of the kids then going to a professional may help. A Venture baby photographer or child photographer will help capture your little ones in stunning photographs.
Take advantage of the summer colours
One of the great things about summer is how colourful it is. Just take a look outside in the garden and you’ll see the various plants and flowers blooming, and you can use this to your advantage. Obviously if you’re taking pictures of flowers and your garden then it’s easy to get the colour in the photo, but if you’re taking pictures of people then try positioning to include some colour in the background. If you don’t have any natural colour around the place, then get your subjects to wear bright clothing to really make them stand out.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you from Venture Photography
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