Family Photography How To

Maybe it's cold outside . . . but it's a great time to take pictures!

Winter brings with it some great photo opportunities. In many areas winter means snowy landscapes and snow sports; in others, it's just a somewhat cooler and slightly wetter time of year. Here are some winter-oriented photo tips that should help you add some nice shots to your portfolio, and have some fun doing it.

Helpful hints for better people-pictures

1. Use the Best Focal Length
The best lens for portraits is more often than not a short telephoto—85-135mm for a 35mm camera. Why? Because short teles produce a good head size at a shooting distance that produces pleasant perspective. If you use a wide-angle lens, you have to move very close to your subject to get a good head...

Let’s just say that commercial photographer and “Best Dad Ever” Josh Rossi decided to make this Halloween a memorable one for his three-year-old daughter by giving her a hand-made Wonder Woman costume and making her the subject of an incredible photo shoot.

These projects are affordable or FREE and will keep you occupied for days – weeks, even. They require no special skills and comply with social distancing safety and common sense. Think of them as sort of blind dates. You may want to spend an afternoon with them, or maybe a few months, or perhaps even the rest of your life.

(Editor’s Note: Exploring Light is a monthly Shutterbug column featuring tips, tricks, and photo advice from professional photographers in Canon Explorers of Light education program. This month's column is by Lynsey Weatherspoon, with five great tips for documenting heritage and cultural lineage.

Read this and you’ll never again say, “Seen one parade, you’ve seen them all.”

More seasonal photo fun

Back in 1998 (July issue), we brought you "7 Hot Summer Tips." In 2000 (June issue), we brought you seven more in "7 Hot Summer Tips II." Now, to keep the biennial string going in 2002, we bring you "7 Hot Summer Tips III."

Summer is a fine time for photography. Days are long and evenings are warm, providing many hours of good light and comfortable...