How to take an awesome photo for your project!

Lighting is everything! when you watch a movie or a well done commercial, notice how great the lighting is. Everyone has a little light hitting the back of there head and just enough light hitting there face. The light is coming from both the front and back. This is the optimal lighting situation.
You can take this same theory and put it to work for you!

Things to remember:

• Sunlight in your subjects face will cause them to squint ... need I say more?
• Taking photos at night to be used for any publication is not good.
• If you use a conventional throw away camera, always get one with a flash.
• Always pay attention to shadows hitting your subject.
• Take your photo with the flash on and then one with it off. No regrets!
• It's all in the light... See the image below.

This photo was taken with a $200 dollar Canon Camera outdoors with a flash.
Notice the sun light coming from behind her. The flash provides the rest of the light to the face and illuminates the colorful necklace.
(Thanks Vanessa of Amerind Corp. for the great pose!)

Headshot Outdoors:

Sun light coming from behind the subject with flash on. Make sure the sunlight is not coming direct into the lense of the camera.

If you want to add that bronze look to your subject, take your photo just before the sun goes down with no flash.  The subject will not have to squint and will have a bronze look to there skin.

Headshot Indoors:

Sun light coming through a window from behind the subject with the flash on. You may want to try your subject in different areas of the room to achieve what your looking for. Play with it. Try it with the flash on and off. If you have a window that is fogged use it!

Also try facing your subject toward the window and taking the photo with no flash. If your subject has to squint do not shoot with this setup.

Exterior Property/Archetecture:

This type of shot is best taken when the sun is direct overhead or rather when the most sunlight is hitting the building. This will vary with each building because of the position of the building to the sun at any given time of the day.

The goal in this shot will be to eliminate as many shadows as possible in order to show the true architecture. A flash will have no effect. This shot is totally dependant upon the sun light. Take notice of what the building looks like early morning, noon and just prior to the sun going down. Again, watch out for those shadows!

I hope this tutorial has helped you!
Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions about this tutorial or others we have here online!