How to Take Your Own Professional Photographs Outdoors

When high school and college graduation time roll around, most seniors want some good pictures taken to commemorate the occasion. And even if they don't want them, most parents do. But this sometimes leaves the student or the parent in a bind to spend upwards of $200 on professional photo packages.

This isn't necessarily a problem if you are allowed to dictate what you want to the photographer, but often they have a mind of their own and take pictures their own way. In addition, you could end up spending extra money to get the pictures Photoshopped to remove any stray hairs or fuzzies that may have crept up, and you'll inevitably end up spending another $100 or more just buying prints and framing a few photos.

Our experience with professional photographers encouraged us to explore the possibility of taking our own "professional-looking" photos outdoors. With just a 2.5 Megapixel camera, a tripod, and good weather, we have been able to take beautiful photos of family members that have turned out just as good, if not better, than ones we have paid for professionally. Here are just a few tips we've learned that can help you take great outdoor family photos without spending a bundle.

One: Pick a Good Weather Day

Good weather doesn't necessarily mean blue skies without a cloud in sight and the sun streaming down from every direction. If you are taking pictures in a park, or on your own acreage, where there are some trees or foliage to block some of the sun, this can make for a beautiful photo. Otherwise, you might want to wait for slightly overcast weather to avoid running into shadows and too much sunlight casting rays on faces and messing up the camera flash.

Two: Use a Tripod and Timer for Steady Shots

It's always worth it to take the time to set up a tripod, even if it's a pain. Even on bumpy ground it keeps the camera more steady than in your hands. Also, if your camera has a timer capability, set the timer for each and every shot, and once you've pressed the capture button, move away from the camera to ensure nothing is bumped. We've noticed this gives us much crisper photos with no blur. And you almost always need to use the flash.

Three: Choose the Right Location

Quaint photos by the trunk of a tree don't always make for the greatest photos, especially if there are spiders crawling out of them (we experienced this once; a spider crawled onto the model's hand on the best picture and we had to Photoshop it out!) If there's a garden gate or fence to stand by, this can add some variety to your photo. Trees are good if you can make it look like the model is not just standing against a bunch of brown bark. Also, beware of any sunlight casting unwanted shadows on the model's face, especially if it's coming right across in their eyes.

Four: Wear the Right Clothing

When graduates have their photos taken in May, chances are they are still a little on the wintery white side, skin-wise. This means wearing that crisp, white Polo shirt may not be the best clothing option. We've found that for girls, things in the brown, blue, or teal category work well, and the same is true for guys. Of course, much of what will dictate the wardrobe depends on personal preference, but try to stay away from wild prints, too much plaid, and anything that resembles pajamas in the least (including sweats). For some extra variety, throw a cute jacket over the model's shoulder in the picture, as this adds some dimension and interest.

Five: Wear Makeup

For guys, wearing makeup isn't crucial unless they need some powder for shine, a little cover up on a zit or scab, or some Vaseline or Chapstick on dry lips. But for girls, the photos typically look better if you put on at least a little makeup. For young girls, you don't need much except some lip gloss or lip shine and maybe a little powder. For older girls, wear a full face of makeup, but don't wear too much eye shadow, especially since bright eye colors show up too much in the corners of the eyes in photos. Also, you might want to bring a comb or brush along with you as well as a small mirror and some touchup makeup, just to make sure everything stays in order.

When you've finished taking your pictures, download them to a computer, blow them up to 100% original size, and begin scrutinizing. Pick your favorite pictures and choose between them based on how the model smiled, the evenness of eyes (or lack thereof, if they started to blink or squint), and how much Photoshopping, if any, needs to be done. Once you've chosen your pictures, you can print them yourself if you have a photo printer, or take them to Walgreen's, as this is often less expensive than buying your own paper and ink.