Hi, I am Kim from My Go-Go Life. I started blogging only a few weeks ago so I was gobsmacked when Sara kindly asked me to do a guest posting about taking photographs for blogs. I am not a photographer and do not even play on on tv. I have only very basic knowledge of my camera and am lucky enough to have an amazing friend that will give an honest opinion on my pictures before I ever consider posting them. He is a graphic designer so I trust his judgement over mine any day and twice on Sundays :o) I hope I can be somewhat helpful in making your photographs better even if it is not for a blog.
For me the most important thing is to keep the main focus on what you want others too see. Here are two pictures of Sara looking amazing as usual. Sara sent the one on the top to me to play with and when I sent her the “played” with pic back her first reaction was, ” What is different?” and that would be my first reaction too. It is little changes that make her the center of the photo not the plant, house or tree in the background. You see beautiful Sara, her stunning dress cowboy boots and all! I also used features in iphoto to lighten the photo and warm it up. Not so much that it looks fake but just enough to make it more warm and not washed out.
I am not sure if I was very helpful but these are the thoughts and little tricks I use when taking my photos. I also take many, many, many shots because the one shot I thought would be perfect usually is not the one I end up using at all.
Sara, Thank you so much for having me on your blog!
Kim, your last photo of the quilt is stunning! Also, I think it is important when you crop a photo to still try to maintain some regular photo proportions (like 5 x 7, 8 x 10, square), so it looks less cut down…just a thought! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much and I agree completely! I am still learning the cropping process in iphoto, I made some look like a fun mirror,LOL!