Today’s post is about capturing the moment.
Anyone can take a picture.
In fact, cameras are everywhere and tons of people have access to a camera at their fingertips.
Not everyone can make a great photo.
Capturing a great moment, makes a huge difference.
Let’s talk about how to do that:
1. Be ready.
Not everything or everyone is going to be considerate enough to wait until you have your camera up and ready to push the shutter. Be prepared. Think about what you want to try and capture and have your camera up, set and ready to go.
2. Consider your equipment.
Besides price, there’s a lot of difference between a DSLR and a point-and-shoot. One of the main things is the delay between when you depress the shutter and when it actually makes an image. Know that and be prepared to anticipate the action.
3. Dream Big.
What’s the best thing that could happen at the event that you are trying to photograph? Say it’s a wedding. The bride being lifted up in the air on a chair? Well, since you aren’t the main photographer, how about standing on a chair so you aren’t blocked by everyone else? Think ahead and prepare.
4. Connect
Make a connection with your subject and let it show in your photograph. Look at the example for today’s post. I was shooting an engagement session in San Francisco. Great background, but I let the couple forget that I was even there and they just started to have fun with each other. Pretty soon they were lost in each others eyes and I had my photo.
Take these tips and start to incorporate them into your shooting style and you’ll be capturing moments like a pro in no time.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

Light is everything.
Especially when it’s used correctly.
Today’s post is about lighting subjects with subtlety rather than with a wide brush every time.
Find light that only lights a portion of your subject and you’ll start to see more interesting images.
The first image shows exactly what I’m talking about.
During one of my classes, the students found this light streaming through a second story window.
They took turns posing and directing each other.
Learning to only let the light strike a portion of each of their subjects.

Here’s another version.
The subject’s eyes are deep set and allow the light to only hit her forehead and cheekbones.
The result is more mysterious and interesting, than blasting the whole scene with flat even lighting.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

You know I have a thing for angels.
Mostly, they are in my garden or I photograph them and put them here on the blog.
Today was another angel.
This one is by some famous person who has racked up a few bucks selling these faceless creations.
Still, I like the way that the light is falling on the head and on the background.
Direct light but, it’s going through some blinds, so it’s a bit filtered.
I left a lot of negative space to balance off the sculpture and lastly I like how the light only strikes a portion of the angel.
Mystery and beauty.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

So I was walking to class again today and when I spotted this bird sculpture inside the ceramics area.
It reminded me of the famous Henri Cartier Bresson photograph of Matisse.
I was so excited as I carefully framed the bird within the chain link fence and placed it in the upper left area of convergence.
I was inspired!
To me the bird was trapped within the space, but there was still fierce beauty as he/she awaited freedom at some point.
I was reading Ayn Rand’s, “Anthem,” and something about the way the bird stood, reminded me of how the main character was unconquered by the rules, fear and bondage of that society.
This sculpture might be held within a cage, but it’s head is held high and it’s wings are outstretched to catch some invisible wind that only he can see.

Here’s the Bresson image of Matisse surrounded by his birds.
They aren’t constrained by their cages, either.
This was a great day and a beautiful image that was found.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

This is a little trick that I usually try when I’ve covered an event from a lot of different angles and I want to spice things up a bit.
Most clients are wowed by this, since most don’t know how it’s done.
It’s really very simple:
1. Set your camera to Manual
2. Adjust your shutter speed to about 1/8 to 1/15 of a second.
3. Rotate your wrist before you start to press the shutter and continue to rotate as you press the shutter. It should be a smooth movement. It will take a lot of practice to make sure that you can do it.
4. Place your subject near the center of the circle, since that area will not move as much as the outsides.
5. Adjust the shutter speed slower and faster if your subjects show too much movement or not enough.
The slow shutter speed picks up any specular highlights as you twist your camera.
Give your photos a twist to liven them up.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

Detail photos are so important.
They give so much more information to your viewer than a bunch of overall images.
This is a variation of the rings photo that most wedding photographers do.
But with a twist.
I noticed that each centerpiece had a Bryan + Celina heart with an arrow through it.
The date of their wedding was also etched into the wood.
Simply including their rings made this an information packed image.
See how an image like this creates variety from straight people shots?
Although everyone wants to see the bride and groom, detail images give the viewer a visual variance that can make the story telling more interesting and provocative.
Here’s another version:

The bride held a bouquet of sunflowers, so I decided to utilize the flowers in an image.
The information gleaned from this image is all about the rings.
What they look like and how many diamonds are on the bride’s ring etc.
To sum up this post, detail images not only fill in the blanks they add the information that makes any story interesting and more viewable.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

I want to share a bit more about utilizing diagonals in your images.
To recap:
Diagonals are powerful.
They cause visual movement within your frame and take your viewers from one area to another.
Take a look at today’s image.
It’s just a shadow of a person walking towards a building in the morning light.
But, the placement of the shadow takes our viewers from the lower left area of the frame to the upper right area.
This little journey is visually compelling and thus creates an image that viewers want to look at.
The shadow of the person is framed by a wide shaft of light that is itself two diagonals.
Three for the price of one!
That’s a deal!
Look for these powerful compositional tools in your future compositions.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

Friend of mine has a little guitar collection displayed on the wall in her home.
It’s a great example of repetition.
Repeating images are beloved by viewer’s eyes.
Easily led and drawn into the pattern that is revealed, it’s a dynamic way to display anything.
In this case, guitars.
Try this, the next time you have any subject that is similar and in a pattern.
Remember the rules of composition still apply and make your photo that much stronger.
Be inspired!
Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. Her currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

I have photographed this building before, but tonight I it drew my attention due to the lovely silhouettes the setting sun was creating.
There’s a lot going on in this image:
1. Silhouettes
Classic case of the light falling on the palm trees being darker than the light falling on the background. Creating silhouettes!
2. The reflection of the sunset in the mirrored panels of the windows of the building. Another perspective.
3. Strong diagonals
The roofline of the building creates a very strong and dramatic diagonal which gives movement and power to this image. Diagonals are a photographers friend. Look for them and use them whenever possible.
4. The light is so smooth.
It seems to envelope each subject as it slowly slips beneath the horizon and gives way to the night. The last minutes of light are referred to as the golden light. This is why.

A very nice image from a church parking lot that I’ve been to hundreds of times and yet it never looks quite the same.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. Her currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

I have to admit that wandering around school before my classes has been a real inspiration for my photography lately.
I saw this scene which I must have passed a hundred times, but never stopped before.
I briefly thought about waiting for a person to enter, so I could talk about patience, but then I noticed the sheer beauty of the starkness of this image.
I love how the arches draw my eye deeper into the image.
A figure might have stopped that lovely visual experience.
Placing the end of the passageway in the upper left area completes the visual journey.
The lighting adds mystery and sculpts each archway to give more dimensionality to the image, too.
Another example of being aware of your surroundings as you walk through your day, even when you pass by familiar areas.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. Her currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS