Want to take your yearbook candids from good to great? Check out these top tips from award winning Lifetouch photographer Laura Krug Sullivan:
- Tell a Story. A photo should tell a story and have an impact on the viewer. Look at each photo and if you can’t tell what the story is, don’t use that image.
- Get in Close. If something does not add to the image, leave it out. End the picture where the action ends. When cropping in the camera, try different crops and see what looks best.
- Try All Angles. Don’t be afraid to get down low to photograph, tilt the camera and put the action in the corners with lines that lead the viewer’s eyes to the center of interest. Remember to flatter your subject–an athlete looks stronger with a low angle photo. The prom queen might appreciate a higher camera angle.
- Avoid Photographing Only in Horizontal. Make a decision at the camera whether the image would look better as a vertical image.
- Pay Attention to the Details. Is there anything distracting in the final picture (trash, soda cans, a car)? Crop it out if it doesn’t add to the image. Watch for proper placement of the subject. Is a sign or tree directly behind them? By taking one step, you can avoid having objects stick out from the subject’s head.
- Remember the Rule of Thirds. Divide the image into thirds (horizontally and vertically) and put the center of interest where the lines intersect.
- Use Humor Appropriately. Never embarrass anyone by the images that you take. Keep it positive and never hurt anyone’s feelings. Yearbook photography should be uplifting, never hurtful.
- Have Fun. If you enjoy what you are doing it will show in your work.
- Take a Lot of Pictures. Never run out of supplies (batteries, flash cards, etc.). You don’t want to be unprepared if the unexpected happens. Never go anywhere without your camera. You could miss the photo of a lifetime.