Tips for Better Digital Photography

High quality digital cameras are reasonably priced and a staple of marketing and PR departments everywhere. They are a key resource for communications professional to capture events, award presentations, new staff, speakers and conferences for fast and inexpensive additions to newsletters, emails, websites and more.

Problems often arise when those using the camera are not aware of what is needed to produce quality images. The issues rise from a combination of technical and visual challenges.

10 tips for pictures that will look great on press or online:

1. Rule-of-thumb: For printing, photos need to be 300 dpi (dots per inch) at the size they will be printed.
2. Resolution Solution: If you are not familiar with terms like resolution and dpi, the best bet when taking photos for use in printed pieces is to set the camera at the "highest" or "fine" setting — it will be the one that holds the least number of pictures, but captures the greatest detail per shot.
3. Group Shots: Indoor group shots get most of their light from the flash, so try to put subjects wearing lighter colored clothing in the back.
4. Award Photos: The biggest problem is the glare on glass or the whiteness of oversized presentation checks. Try taking photos from slightly different angles and ask the subjects to angle the award or check slightly down to reduce the glare.
5. View: Always try to be on eye level with your subject. Bend down, or stand on a chair if possible.
6. Focus: Make sure the center of attention is visible.
7. Background: Don’t worry too much about an exit sign in the corner, but try not to position subjects in front of something distracting. Watch out for dark clothes against dark backgrounds, white against white, or white against dark.
8. Cropping: Leave enough space around the subject for flexibility later. If you want the image to be silhouetted (cut out) make sure all arms, legs and tops of heads are in the frame. Chopping off a foot or hair can eliminate the ability to make a cut out later.
9. Settings: Most cameras have different settings for different situations. Using "portrait" for faces or "macro" for close-ups makes a huge difference in having clear and focused photos. Check the manual for clues to what the camera icons mean.
10. Editing: If you are working with a designer, let them handle the cropping, color adjustments and file formatting. It will save you both time and money as well as increase the quality of the finished product.

As the President of Iris Creative Group Inc, Beth Brodovsky helps organizations and businesses use communication to build involved communities. You can reach Beth at 610-567-2799 or beth@iriscreative.com. Follow @bethbrodovsky on Twitter or connect at www.linkedin.com/in/bethbrodovsky.