Say Cheese!

   There are great family photographs to be captured in holiday celebrations, pictures you’ll look back on for decades to come. Following these few simple tips can make your pictures even better.

Be prepared. Have the camera with you. If the kids are doing something cute, they won’t wait while you go back into the house for the camera. And don’t forget to keep the camera batteries charged.

Fill the frame. Get closer to your subject. Many people take pictures from too far away. You don’t have to include everyone from head to toe. Get close enough to eliminate objects you don't want in your picture.

What do you see in the viewfinder? Look carefully at everything you see — the background and the edges of the frame, not just the subject in the foreground. Make sure you don’t have plants, telephone poles or other vertical objects “growing out” of the subject’s head. Make sure your own shadow is not in the picture. Be aware of the horizon line. Is it level? Try taking pictures on an angle. Moving the camera just a little can have a great effect on the composition of your shot.