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Post by mikklynn on Aug 6, 2015 5:25:53 GMT
I've learned to deal with the less than perfect photos. I decided a bad photo is better than no photo.
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Aug 6, 2015 7:21:10 GMT
I didn't get that vibe at all. But maybe because I have had the same experience. I am not looking for perfection from strangers, but yes, I would like to be in the picture somehow. I am astonished at how some people really cannot take a picture with a point and shoot camera. I am sure they have other remarkable skills that I do not possess, so it is not a comment on their inferiority, but rather an observation about how it can be a challenge to find someone who can take a picture for you. I take plenty of crappy pictures, so I rely on the delete function and the digital capacity to take lots and lots so maybe in all that quantity, there are a couple that will work.
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Post by corinne11 on Aug 6, 2015 13:13:42 GMT
When we are on holidays I often ask strangers taking single shots or photos of one parent with the kids, if they would like ME to take a photo of all of them together, never fails. They always return the favour.
Every family Christmas, Mothers Day or special birthdays I make sure that we take set photos of each family group.
However, I am going to change this as I realised that my sister is always in a photo with all 3 of her kids and her husband. They don't take a lot of photos and I am going to start taking photos of her (and her husband) with individual kids. This has been motivated by doing my mum's slide show for her funeral. I only found one photo of her with my brother (who passed away). When you have 4 kids it is so rare to have a photo with just one.
I've started to take a lot more casual photos too, with whoever is around in the photos. Some of the best photos I've taken lately have been the random, candid photos. And sometimes an average group photo can be saved by cropping out individuals who look good in that particular shot. Corinne
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 6, 2015 13:34:28 GMT
Thanks again ladies. I am gla dI am not the only one. As I said, I am not looking for perfection, but a picture I enjoy looking at, even if I don't look my best in it. The remote for my camera is coming tomorrow and that will make a difference. I am more comfortable tkaing group shots if I son't have to keep running back and forth to hit the shutter.
Now I need to figure out what to do with DH and DS and their transistion lenses. They love them, but I can not get an outside picture of them without their eyes blacked out.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,318
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Aug 6, 2015 13:41:01 GMT
Yeah as a mom I am often times the one taking the photo vs. being in the photo. I really don't have a problem asking strangers to take our picture though. DH is also pretty good about taking my photo with the kids. As the kids get older the everyday photos are becoming less and less. That part is sad to me.
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Post by Karene on Aug 6, 2015 14:04:57 GMT
We just ran into this on the weekend. My oldest son and girlfriend are moving out east in a week, so we went to visit them on Sunday and Monday. I took my camera to get a photo of the two of them and then a group one with them and my husband, younger son and myself. We went to a park and I set the camera on the tripod and used the timer. I took about 5 photos so that I could choose the best one. I never just take one photo is it is something special.
When my husband and I took a trip to Scotland and Ireland, we took a lot of photos of each other. We were at one place and a man offered to take a photo of us together. It is one of the few we have together from that trip, and it is out of focus. I set it up for him too.
To get photos together at Christmas, I usually bring my camera and borrow some lights and a backdrop from work. I take a group shot of everyone and then I do individual families, grandparents and grandchildren, whatever anyone wants. I also take the same in the summer but outside. A very short time after I took all these special photos of my family at Christmas, my mother passed away from a brain tumor. They are the last photos of her with everyone and I am so glad that I went to the effort. We used one of these photos of her for her obituary and mass card.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Aug 6, 2015 14:37:02 GMT
I just deal with the results. I don't feel like fretting over every aspect of it. When I take photos I have a certain expectation, when I hand it off all of that goes out the window. I expect a photo taken but that's it. I also check the photo as soon as it's taken so that if a retake is needed then it's right then.
I guess I think you're being too particular about it. Yes, good photos are important but it seems like you think everyone else's photography skills are below yours and you can't trust anyone to take a photo of you. If that's how you feel, learn how to take selfies and be happy with that look. So I just suggest letting go a little bit and trusting others.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 6, 2015 14:50:31 GMT
Well, another thing learned from the peas...say no when a stranger asks if I wouldn't mind taking their picture.
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Post by scrapcat on Aug 6, 2015 15:27:28 GMT
Self-timer Take pics of your feet in places (tile floors, green grass,etc) place your camera on the ground, a wall, a curb and step a way a bit to get into the frame
There's a lot of talk about this in the scrapbooking community because the storytellers don't always really get pictured as part of the story. If you search someone like Ali Edwards, she has a lot of suggestions thru her blog of how to get yourself in photos.
I'm a fan of the imperfect, blurry photos, so I often cut my head off on purpose or take a shot of my shadow on the beach.
My advice would be embrace the imperfection, it's real life and just go with it.
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Aug 6, 2015 17:11:21 GMT
I try to hand off the camera. I saw the same thing in my own photos a year or two ago, that I'm never in them because I'm always the one taking them. So I've been making more of an effort to ask others to take pics of me with my kids. I also bought a selfie stick, but it's a little awkward. I don't do selfies well, so I was hoping that would help. Maybe with a little more practice.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 29, 2024 6:01:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2015 20:41:13 GMT
I'd like to know why it seems people don't think of how to hold the camera... vertically vs horizontally. DH and I were standing in front of the Eiffel Tower and gave our PNS camera to a stanger. She took the picture horiontally, cutting off the top of the tower. Why? Why would anyone want a picture like that?! I've actually handed the camera to people vertically and they change it. So I have to tell them to please take the picture vertically.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 6, 2015 20:51:54 GMT
Well, another thing learned from the peas...say no when a stranger asks if I wouldn't mind taking their picture. Please don't do that. I will get over my feelings and love the picture more than nit picking the quality. I am afraid I will over direct the person kind enough to take our picture and make them feel bad, like you are feeling. If I would hand you a camera and say, it is all set up, so all you need to do is push the button then maybe it will work out. You know what, it will work out. As long as I can see who is in the picture with me, I need to let go of the quality and enjoy the memory.
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Post by scrapbookwriter on Aug 6, 2015 21:03:52 GMT
For me it isn't that I'm not in the photo - it's that I look so awful in the photo. I realized my daughter looks reliably gorgeous in photos. I decided to ask her for her secret. Now I am sharing with you:
1. She tilts her head slightly sideways. This helps those of us with asymmetrical faces to have that asymmetry be less obvious. Now I always tilt my head toward the person I am standing with. It looks more friendly and as a bonus I look way better in the photo.
2. She puts her hand on her hip. This creates space around her waist and makes her look both curvy and flirty. I admit I don't do this every time, but when I do, I am usually pretty happy with the results.
3. She shifts her weight to her back leg and turns her hips slightly. Universally flattering.
Hope this helps someone get some photos they can live with!
(But if your head is cut off, I can not be much help.)
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 6, 2015 21:11:08 GMT
I think bad photos are better than no photos... but I also try to increase my chances of getting good ones.
I'm not above taking selfies and "us"ies at all. I frequently use my timer to get get shots. I ask strangers to snap off a few. Whatever I can accomplish. They won't all be good, but at the end of the day, I'm usually pretty pleased to have some that are great.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 7, 2015 1:21:25 GMT
I had another idea for you, and that is to buy DH his OWN camera--preferably from a local place that offers lessons for it. Two cameras ago, DH and I both bought new cameras at the same time. He wanted a really small one he could carry in his pocket and I wanted one with more features. Shortly after that we went on a vacation and brought both. He took pics of me and I took pics of him (this was before kid) and the results were great! It was so fun to have twice the pictures to choose from. Now that we both constantly have our cell phones with us it's even easier. Just a thought!
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