re: OT Photographers - Shooting Manual

quote:

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I am at the beach for a few days and would like to get some good pics of my daughter.

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You won't transform into a great photographer in a few days. The usual process is to shoot lots, review pics over the weekend, learn what worked and what didn't, repeat for several years. Eventually you'll do well enough to earn a pittance. A DSLR is a waste of money until you learn how to take pictures properly.

But if you just want to take something really basic, I suggest the following:

1) Compose the shot so that your subject is roughly in the middle. Not necessarily exactly in the middle, but the subject should be obviously the main part of the shot.
2) Make sure your subject isn't in shadow. If her face is shaded while on the beach, it probably isn't a good shot.
3) Make the background a bit interesting also. Don't take a picture of her lying down on the sand, take pics with the dunes or ocean behind her.
4) You should have bought a point and shoot camera and learned how to take pictures with that instead. Much less expensive. Hell, a good photographer can take good stuff with a phone camera.