Get Above Or Below To Get Different Portrait Looks

Most times pictures are taken from one angle, straight on. In this article Ill help you see how placing your camera in places you may not of once thought of could help make your pictures a little more interesting.

I love the beach. I love lying in the sand and that is where I first found this way of taking pictures. Justin was walking by me and I thought he looked huge, like a giant. I took the picture while I was lying on the ground up at him and sure enough, he looks like Gulliver. (That's a giant from an old movie)

My daughter Lily is so little. When she was born she weighed six pounds. When she was six months old she weighed fifteen pounds. Shes a peanut as people say. There's this nice town park we like to go to called Borderland. It has this wonderful old home with a cobble stone driveway. I wanted to capture that stone in a picture so I took a picture while holding my camera directly above Lily's head. The picture is adorable. First you notice the knitted hat that her great grandmother made her but them you see her beautiful blue eyes. Look closer and you'll notice her little pink shoes and the cobble stone driveway that is the background for that picture. The photo shows how tiny she once was.

I set up my first photo shoot at that same park. The shoot was with my good friends Gina and Mike. They are such a cute couple and they love each other so much. I wanted there pictures to look romantic so I chose to take there pictures by that same home. The back of the building was covered with ivy. When I went to take there picture straight on I noticed that the background was all ivy. I had wanted to get some of the house in the picture as well so I knelt down and took the picture. That way I was able to get the ivy and the home all into one picture.

I also used this same angle to take there picture but this time I was looking to get the pine trees and sky as there background. I remember rolling all over the ground saying, "trust me I know what m doing" I think that I made them laugh rolling around like a weirdo, witch made the picture even better.

You have to be careful with taking pictures up at people because this angle can be unflattering to some. It may make there chins stand out and make them look bigger than they actually are. If you take a picture looking down at someone or yourself the picture will most likely come out much more flattering. All of these portraits were taken with a point and shoot camera the Nikon CoolPix camera. So you'll be able to get these same results with any camera. Happy Shooting!

Create A Silhouette Picture

In this article I will tell how to use your light source to make a silhouette photo.

When I first started thinking about becoming a photographer I wanted to set up some test photo shoots with my friends to see if I could do it. So I asked two good friends of mine Gina and Mike. I chose them because there very much in love and I wanted to try and show that in some pictures. I brought a red rose and planned the shoot for sunset. I waited for the right time of day because if you can get the sun behind your models it will make a silhouette. I really like how the sun shaped there faces and lit up the red rose. I think it shows how much they love each other.

I went to to the beach one day and I saw these six seagulls all standing in a row on top of the pic nice tables. I'm compulsive so the fact they we are all lined up so perfectly really excited me, that is a joke. Anyways, the sun was behind them making them look like shadows. I snapped the picture of my six new friends. Not a joke, were having brunch next week.

You can also use a door way to get these results. If the room you are in is dark and the other room lit it will make a silhouette picture as well. So there is the secret, If your light source is behind someone or something that is when you can get a silhouette photo. All of these photos were taken with a point and shoot camera, the Nikon coolpix. So you can get these results with any camera.

The Steps I am TakingTo Become A Photographer

In this article I will share with you how I am achieving  my dream of becoming a photographer..

When I was a kid I would beg my parents to let me use there camera. I can remember the day when they did, I was so excited and thankful. I would dress my dog, Shadow up in costumes and place him in certain spots to take his picture and In high school I would ask my friend Niki to come over to take some pictures with me. I'd place us in front of my closet that had sparkly garland hanging from it for our background. All though these pictures are old and not that good I think back on these times and it makes me realize that I've always been a photographer. Its only until just recently I decided that I could do this professionally.

When I had my daughter Lily, I was told by many that she was the most photographed baby in the world and people were liking the pictures I took of her. As the thought of becoming a "professional" crossed my mind I started dressing her up and placing her in certain places around my house and yard.

I have an eye disease called Star Guarts. It is a incurable disease and I am legally blind. It is very hard for me to go to classes because I have a hard time seeing things like a teacher, chalk boards or even books so I did all my learning online. I would go to sites like You Tube and type in what I wanted to learn about and watch all the videos on my big computer screen. The Internet really helped me. I don't think I'll ever stop learning about photography. I hope to become better at photography with the more I learn. After that I realized that I wouldn't be able get the quality pictures I was looking for with my regular point and shoot camera so I bought a higher quality camera, the Nikon D90 and I love it!

I  have also purchased photography studio equipment from a man who was retiring. I set it up in our finished basement. First i took  pictures of Lily to make sure that I could use it correctly. After that I asked my friend from Niki to come over to take some pictures again. That was a great and surreal day for me. It was like the old times, except now I had everything. The lighting, the backdrops, the props, everything. It was awesome! I couldn't of asked for a more beautiful model either

I have never been happier. People are asking me to be there photographer and I'm so proud to be. Thank you to everyone who has believed in me. To the ones who have gave me the encouraging words that I needed to hear. Thank you, you really helped me achieve my dreams!

How To Stay In Shape With Taking Pictures

If you are like me you have a hard time trying to find a reason to exercise. Even though exercise can help you live a longer life sometimes you may need a little push to help you get out there and do it. In this article I'll tell you how my photography helps me.

My all time favorite way to lose weight is to go for a walk somewhere new so that I can try and find something awesome to take a picture of. It motivates me to think that there is a picture out there just waiting for me to come and get it. The Fall season is my favorite time to be outdoors. The trees are beautiful and bright and the temperature is usually just right. I have taken many great pictures when I go out for walks during the fall.

I thought of a fun game to play while out walking. I had taken a picture while Justin and I were out one day. I didn't let him see it until the next time we went to that same trail. I showed him the picture on my camera and said "ok now try and find this place." He had such a good time trying to find it, he just keep on walking and walking to get there. I think we walked twice as long that day because he was determined to find it and I had forgotten where I took the picture. Note to self, next time remember where I took it.

My nephew Ben loves it when I take his picture. He loves super heroes so one day I said, "hey Ben, how about we go outside and Ill take some action pictures of you so you'll look like a real super hero?" He was so excited. So Ben, Justin and I all went outside and were all running around for hours taking pictures and exercising without even realizing it. Playing in the snow is another great way to exercise. Justin and I had so much fun one year playing tag with Ben in the snow. I'm glad that I had my point and shoot camera in my pocket because I got a great picture. Ben's face was all red from playing so much and there's his Uncle Justin in the background chasing him with a big smile on his face. That picture will always remind me how much fun we use to have playing with Ben and we must of burn hundreds of calories

Justin and I went to my brother Scott's vacation home in Surry, Maine one year. It is awesome there you can walk right down to the ocean from the cabin. I wasn't feeling up for a walk one day and Justin really wanted to. He convinced me by saying "oh look Emily, there is some colorful seaweed down there that would make a great picture" that convinced me to go. Thirty minutes later I got my picture and probably lost a whole pound because that beach was difficult to walk down. Thanks Justin!

There are no mountains close to where I live but there are the Blue Hills. One time Justin and I walked for hours down a rocky trail and we found this beautiful lake. I was upset that day because my camera battery died before I could take the picture. So the next time we went there I was motivated to keep walking so that I could get my picture and I did. I was proud of myself for getting out there and getting that picture.

The next time your looking for a reason to go out and exercise just think of a beautiful place to capture. A place that you can only get to with your feet. If you don't live someone where there is foliage, parks or trails you could take a walk through your town. Photos of buildings and people are fun and make some great pictures.

Make It Snow in Your Pictures

Do you love the look of winter? Here is a few creative ways to capture the beauty of snow in your pictures.

It was my daughter Lily's first time out in the snow and she loved it. We put two snow suits on her that day because it was so cold outside. She couldn't move so when we would lay her in the snow she would look like a star fish. As she was lying there I wrote her name in the snow and took her picture. Her name is going across the top of the picture with Lily lying there in the snow. You could use this same idea with sand, chalk, paper and crayons and many other ways too.

Try to get some action shots. I wanted to always remember Lily being pulled around in her tiny sled by her Daddy, Justin. So I set my camera to sports, which lets you take many pictures at one time and I chose the photo that showed that he was pulling her.I think it came out looking like a Christmas card.

Lily always loves looking out the window at the snow. She reaches out and touches the window as if she could catch the falling flakes. This is a good way to capture the snow even while staying in your warm house.

If you are not the kind of person who wants to go brave the snow to get these pictures, open your window and get them that way. Make sure to put up your screen to get a clear picture. Night time snow pictures are always cool. Try setting your camera on a TriPod or steady surface to get them nice and clear. I did this for my grandmothers house. She lives right next door to me so I opened the window and got a great picture.

If you don't have snow where you live? Make it. I hung a sparkly blue cloth for my background then put down some white Christmas lights. I then put some fake snow on top of those lights. I say lily in them with her favorite winter hat and the picture came out looking great. Its one of my all time favorites of her.

Catching the Christmas Spirit In Your Pictures

When you are taking pictures on Christmas day make sure to capture the candid moments, those are the ones that pass so quickly but make the holidays so special. In this article I'll tell you how I caught the moments that are precious to me.

Justin and I have two great nephews and one awesome niece. Justin would spend so much time playing with all of them and they all really love him. Now that Lily is here he can't spend too much time with them. I captured the moment when all of them are looking up at him and Lily is looking down at her cousins. I think the picture shows how much the kids love there Uncle Justin and how much Justin and Lily love them.

I tried so hard to keep Lily away from grabbing the Christmas tree ornaments this year. She really wanted to eat the small gold bells. Even when I took them off the tree she would grab my leg and try to climb me for them. I thought It was adorable so I asked Justin to take our picture. I love how little she looks in it and she is obviously mesmerized by the small bell. You can tell I'm getting a kick out of it kind of like fishing for a baby.

Lily's cousin Elizabeth is two years older than her but they still love to play together. On Christmas they were unwrapping gifts together and Lily was crawling around after Elizabeth. They had so many new toys to play with even a new kids play house but what did they show the most interest in? My Sister in law's new candle box. They sat there for so long just touching the plastic ruby and label on the top of the box . It was very cute.

My nephew Elijah is a great artist and was given some coloring books for Christmas this year. We we're all sitting around the dining room table tired and stuffed from dinner and there was Elijah so happy, just sitting there coloring his picture. I wanted to remember how dedicated he was to finishing that picture of a space ship and it came out great. These pictures were all taken with a Nikon D90.

Using A Simple Prop

Look up, look down and look all around. Chances are that there are props right in front of you that if included into your photos they could really make them pop.

My birthday is July 5th and because July 4th is a national holiday my family is almost always able to get together to celebrate. One year I was playing Frisbee with my niece and nephews. While trying to take a picture of my older brother he used the Frisbee as a face shield. That gave me the idea of getting a shot of everyone holding the Frisbee up as a mask.



I try to bring my daughter Lily outside at least twice a day. On a sunny day I had an umbrella to block her from the sun. My mom had the idea to use the rainbow umbrella as a background for the photo. So she helped me by holding the umbrella while I took some pictures. They came really out really cool.

On the day of my first practice photo shoot of a couple of friends. I had bought some roses for them to hold to add some romance to the pictures. When we were through we decided to have some fun with Lily. My friend Jill had her lie down in grass and then sprinkled the petals from the roses all around her. The contrast of the grass and all the colors of the rose petals really make her blue eyes pop.

The day finally came when I got my new camera, the Nikon D90. I was so excited I just had to go somewhere to try it out. My friend Daren suggested this small park that he knew about. At the park there was a green storage building where someone had spray painted "memories" on the side of it. I don't condone graffiti in any way but in this case it worked for my picture.