How to Photograph Children

Photographing children can sometimes be a challenging task, since children typically do not like posing for the camera (especially when they are too busy doing something they like). Everything happens way too fast, making it extremely difficult for the photographer to capture the moment. Because of that, many of us end up with blurry and out-of-focus photographs and wonder how we can improve our photography skills to get better results. After learning much about child photography, taking pictures of my two boys and doing some work on the field, I decided to write an article and provide tips and pointers on how you can successfully photograph children.

Powerful child portraits are much different than “look at the camera and smile” pictures. A true portrait will reflect a child’s personality, energy and uniqueness that every one of the bundle of joys have.

Malika Catching Rain

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Understanding Shutter Speed – A Beginner’s Guide

Shutter Speed is one of the three pillars of photography, the other two being ISO and Aperture. Shutter speed is where the other side of the magic happens – it is responsible for creating dramatic effects by either freezing action or blurring motion. In this article, I will try to explain everything I know about shutter speed in very simple language.

Dolphin - 1/1600 Shutter Speed

Dolphin - 1/1600 Shutter Speed

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Understanding Aperture – A Beginner’s Guide

Aperture is one of the three pillars of photography, the other two being ISO and Shutter Speed. Without a doubt, it is the most talked about subject, because aperture either adds a dimension to a photograph by blurring the background, or magically brings everything in focus. In this article, I will try to explain everything I know about aperture in very simple language.

American Robin

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Understanding ISO – A Beginner’s Guide

It is challenging to take good pictures without a good understanding of how ISO works and what it does. Camera ISO is one of the three pillars of photography (the other two being Aperture and Shutter Speed) and every photographer should thoroughly understand it, to get the most out of their equipment. Since this article is for beginners in photography, I will try to explain ISO as simple as I can.

Before we go any further, you should first understand how DSLR cameras work.

1) What is ISO?

In very basic terms, ISO is the level of sensitivity of your camera to available light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to the light, while a higher ISO number increases the sensitivity of your camera. The component within your camera that can change sensitivity is called “image sensor” or simply “sensor”. It is the most important (and most expensive) part of a camera and it is responsible for gathering light and transforming it into an image. With increased sensitivity, your camera sensor can capture images in low-light environments without having to use a flash. But higher sensitivity comes at an expense – it adds grain or “noise” to the pictures.

Take a look at the following picture (click to open a larger version):

ISO 200 and ISO 3200 Comparison

ISO 200 and ISO 3200 Comparison

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DSLR vs Point and Shoot Camera

Why would you pick DSLR vs Point and Shoot Camera or vice-versa? As DSLRs are becoming more and more affordable, a lot of people are wondering if it is time for them to switch to a DSLR and toss their point and shoot cameras. Nowadays, point and shoot cameras have a long list of features and capabilities, compared to even slightly older versions. GPS, face-detection, smile detection and many other new technologies are making their way into the point and shoot market, over-saturating it with new cameras and making it more difficult for people to choose the right camera for their needs. A similar thing is also happening in the DSLR world, where manufacturers are dividing the market into multiple segments, trying to capture a range of potential customers: from entry-level to advanced professional. But one thing for sure – there are many people, who are stuck in the middle, trying to decide whether they want to stay with their point and shoots, or bite the bullet and switch to a DSLR.

DSLR vs Point and Shoot Camera

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How to Change Aperture on Nikon D80 and D90

This is a very quick tip on how to change aperture on Nikon D80 and D90 DSLR cameras.

How to change aperture on Nikon D80 and Nikon D90 cameras

  1. Make sure that your lens aperture can be changed through the camera. If you are using an older lens with an aperture ring, make sure to set the aperture on the lens to the largest number. There should be a lock on the lens to keep it at that number. If you are getting an error on the top screen of the camera with the lens mounted, you should go back and make sure that the aperture ring is set correctly. This is not an issue on most new lenses and the latest generation of the Nikon lenses labeled with a “G” do not have this ring at all. For example, neither the Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G VR nor the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G lens have the aperture ring.
  2. Set your camera on “Aperture Priority” mode by rotating the dial on the top of the camera to “A” position. In Aperture Priority mode, you set the lens aperture manually, while the camera picks the right Shutter Speed for you.
  3. Nikon D90 Top
  4. Rotate the front dial of the camera located under the camera shutter release to change aperture. Rotating to the left will decrease the aperture, while rotating to the right will increase the aperture.

When you decrease the aperture, the aperture setting will stop at the maximum aperture the lens allows. For example, on the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens, aperture will stop at f/1.8. There is also a limit on minimum aperture on each lens and you cannot go higher than that limit as well. Typical minimum lens apertures are f/16, f/22 and f/36.

Lens apertures work a little differently on zoom lenses and the minimum/maximum aperture depends on what focal length you are using on the lens. For example, if you are using the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 lens and you are zoomed out at 18mm, the smallest aperture number you can use is f/3.5. However, if you zoom in to 55mm, the aperture will be limited to f/5.6 and you will not be able to go lower than that. The same principle works on all other variable aperture zoom lenses.

By the way, you can also change the camera to “Manual” or “M” mode on the camera dial to change the lens aperture. However, you will then have to manually choose the camera shutter speed and you will need to have a good understanding on how to photograph in manual mode and how to use the built-in light meter of the camera.

How to Change Aperture on Nikon D40, D40x and D60

This is a very quick tip on how to change aperture on Nikon D40, Nikon D40x and D60 DSLR cameras.

How to change aperture on Nikon D40/D40x/D60 cameras

  1. Make sure that your lens aperture can be changed through the camera. If you are using an older lens with an aperture ring, make sure to set the aperture on the lens to the largest number. There should be a lock on the lens to keep it at that number. If you are getting an error on the back LCD of the camera when you press the “Info” button, you should go back and make sure that the aperture ring is set correctly. This is not an issue on most new lenses and the latest generation of the Nikon lenses labeled with a “G” do not have this ring at all. For example, neither the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR nor the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX lens have the aperture ring.
  2. Changing lens aperture in Aperture Priority mode is very easy – just make sure that the dial on top of the camera is set to “A” position, then rotate the rear command dial to the left to decrease the aperture and to the right to increase it. In Aperture Priority mode, you set the lens aperture manually, while the camera picks the right Shutter Speed for you.
  3. Changing lens aperture in Manual mode is a little tricky. First, make sure that the dial on the top of the camera is set to “M” position.
  4. Nikon D40 Top
  5. Next, press and hold the +/- button located right below the camera shutter, then rotate the rear command dial to change aperture. Rotating to the left will decrease the aperture, while rotating to the right will increase the aperture.

When you decrease the aperture, the aperture setting will stop at the maximum aperture the lens allows. For example, on the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens, aperture will stop at f/1.8. There is also a limit on minimum aperture on each lens and you cannot go higher than that limit as well. Typical minimum lens apertures are f/16, f/22 and f/36.

Lens apertures work a little differently on zoom lenses and the minimum/maximum aperture depends on what focal length you are using on the lens. For example, if you are using the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 lens and you are zoomed out at 18mm, the smallest aperture number you can use is f/3.5. However, if you zoom in to 55mm, the aperture will be limited to f/5.6 and you will not be able to go lower than that. The same principle works on all other variable aperture zoom lenses.

Photography Tips for Beginners

This page contains a collection of articles we have written for those who are just getting into photography. These photography tips for beginners should hopefully help our readers to enhance their knowledge of photography and get the best out of their equipment.

Please see our subscription page in order to subscribe to our website via email or RSS.

Photography gear and how to buy it:

  1. What is a DSLR?
  2. DSLR vs Point and Shoot
  3. How to Buy a DSLR Camera
  4. Which Nikon DSLR to Buy First?
  5. How to Buy Used Lenses
  6. How to Buy Used DSLR Cameras
  7. Beware of buying camera gear from unauthorized sellers
  8. Nikon vs Canon vs Sony
  9. Where to Buy a DSLR
  10. Must-have DSLR Accessories
  11. How to Choose and Buy a Tripod for a DSLR Camera
  12. Which Nikon Prime Lens to Buy First?
  13. First Nikon DSLR and Lens
  14. Nikon Lens Naming Convention / Nomenclature
  15. Nikon DSLR Error Messages
  16. How to fix blinking “Err” error on new Nikon DSLR Cameras
  17. Best Nikon lenses for Wedding Photography
  18. Best Nikon lenses for Landscape Photography
  19. Best Nikon lenses for Wildlife Photography
  20. Things to Do After Buying a New Lens
  21. Diseases that Plague Photographers

Cleaning and maintaining camera gear:

  1. How to Wet Clean your DSLR Sensor in Less Than 5 Minutes (video tutorial)
  2. How to Clean DSLR Sensor and Keep Your Camera Gear Clean (video tutorial)
  3. How to Clean SLR Camera Lenses
  4. What to Do with Dust Inside Lens
  5. How to Store Memory Cards
  6. Dead vs Stuck vs Hot Pixels
  7. Nikon Quality Control Issues

Understanding basics of photography:

  1. Understanding ISO – A Beginner’s Guide
  2. Understanding Aperture – A Beginner’s Guide
  3. Understanding Shutter Speed – A Beginner’s Guide
  4. Understanding Digital Camera Modes
  5. Understanding Metering and Metering Modes
  6. Understanding ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture – A Beginner’s Guide
  7. DSLR Autofocus Modes Explained
  8. How Phase Detection Autofocus Works
  9. Prime vs Zoom Lenses
  10. Nikon AE-L / AF-L Button
  11. Focus and Recompose Technique
  12. What is White Balance?
  13. Understanding Histograms in Photography
  14. Nikon DX vs FX
  15. How to Spot Dust on Your DSLR Sensor

Wedding Photography Tips

  1. Nikon 50mm f/1.8G for Wedding Photography
  2. Nikon D800/D800E for Wedding Photography
  3. Synchronize Your Cameras
  4. Brenizer Method Panorama
  5. Have fun while working
  6. The significance of depth, background and color in storytelling
  7. Tips on photographing wedding formals and group portraits
  8. Shooting a wedding with an entry-level DSLR
  9. How Much is too Much?
  10. Best Nikon Lenses for Wedding Photography

Wildlife Photography Tips

  1. Wildlife Photography Tips: Use a bean bag
  2. DX or FX for Wildlife Photography
  3. Add some Fish(eye) to your Photography diet
  4. How to eliminate background distractions in photographs
  5. To what lengths will you go to get the Shot
  6. Nature Photography Tips
  7. Confessions of a Deer Hunter
  8. Best Nikon lenses for Wildlife Photography
  9. Raptor Photography
  10. How to Photograph Birds
  11. Florida birding near Orlando

Other Photography Tips

  1. Winter Photography Tips
  2. Street Photography Tips for Beginners
  3. How to Use a Monopod
  4. How to Use Prime Lenses in Low-Light Environments
  5. Maximizing Dynamic Range
  6. The Significance of Depth, Background and Color in Storytelling
  7. Photoshop vs Lightroom
  8. What is Photography Workflow?
  9. Lens Filters Explained
  10. What is Bokeh?
  11. How to Obtain Maximum Bokeh
  12. How to Take Good Pictures
  13. How to Take Sharp Photos
  14. How to Eliminate Background Distractions in Photographs
  15. Landscape Photography Guide
  16. Must-Have Filters for Landscape Photography
  17. Panoramic Photography Howto
  18. How to Take Black and White Pictures
  19. Low-Light Photography Tips
  20. How to use a Polarizer
  21. How to Photograph Children
  22. How to Photograph Birds
  23. Raptor Photography
  24. Mountain Photography Tips
  25. Nature Photography Tips
  26. HDR Photography Tutorial
  27. How to Photograph Textures
  28. How to Photograph Waterfalls
  29. How to Photograph the Moon
  30. How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse
  31. How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse
  32. How to Photograph Fireworks
  33. How to Photograph a Lightning
  34. How to Find Total Shutter Actuations on Nikon and Canon DSLRs
  35. Bokeh on Point and Shoot Cameras
  36. Astrophotography: taking pictures of stars
  37. Focal length comparison on Nikon DX (1.5 crop factor) cameras
  38. Nikon Lens Bokeh Performance
  39. First Nikon Lens?
  40. Nikon Firmware Update

Case Study series:

  1. Case Study: Skin Color Problems
  2. Case Study: Image Spots and Streaks
  3. Case Study: Bird Photography
  4. Case Study: Image Quality
  5. Case Study: Exposure at Night
  6. Case Study: Night Shot

Photography FAQ series:

  1. Photography FAQ #1
  2. Photography FAQ #2
  3. Photography FAQ #3
  4. Photography FAQ #4
  5. Photography FAQ #5

Hardware and software tips/reviews:

  1. Cloud Storage for Photographers
  2. How to Recover Deleted Photographs From Memory Cards
  3. How to Calibrate Your Monitor
  4. Best Monitor for Photography
  5. Is your Browser Color-Managed?
  6. What is EXIF Data?
  7. How to remove EXIF Data?
  8. How to Organize Pictures
  9. DNG vs RAW format
  10. How to view DNG thumbnails in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7
  11. RAW vs JPEG format
  12. Nikon RAW (NEF) Codec for 64 bit Vista or Windows 7

Building and Maintaining a Photography Blog:

  1. How to Create a Photography Blog – Part 1
  2. How to Create a Photography Blog – Part 2
  3. How to Create a Photography Blog – Part 3
  4. How to Create a Photography Blog – Part 4

Legal:

  1. Know Your Rights as a Photographer!

How to Take Good Pictures

One of the questions that I continuously get from some of my friends and blog readers that just got into photography is “How can I take good pictures with what I have, without spending too much money on new cameras and lenses?”. Ever since DSLRs became more affordable and people started buying entry-level DSLRs, there has been a great interest in photography from the general public. One big obstacle everybody runs against at one point or another, is the fact that when most professional photographers show the equipment they used to make great-looking images, it creates an impression that only expensive gear can produce great photographs. What happens from there, really boils down to the wallet and how serious a person wants to get into photography – some start buying expensive gear and thinking it will help them to take good pictures and improve their photography, while others hold off and just keep their DSLRs as “point and shoots”, realizing that they can’t do any better with what they have.

If you do not have a DSLR camera yet and need some help on purchasing it, I recommend reading my article on how to buy a DSLR camera.

Double Rainbow

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Nikon Camera Reviews

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  1. Nikon 1 V1
  2. Nikon 1 J1
  3. Nikon 1 J2
  4. Nikon D3100
  5. Nikon D5100
  6. Nikon D7000
  7. Nikon D600
  8. Nikon D700
  9. Nikon D800
  10. Nikon D3s