Taking Good Photographs

• Take as many photography courses as you can. A photography course will teach you everything you need to know about your camera and how to use it to capture people, pets, scenery, children, and special subjects like flowers and wildlife. If possible, take a course that specializes in your area of interest, such as nature, pets, children, people, or sports.
  
  
• When you take pictures, focus on the subject of interest. If you are photographing pets, focus on the animal, particularly its face, and avoid a lot of clutter in the background that detract from the subject. This is also true for people, particularly children, as well as for wildlife, flowers, and sports photography. Ask yourself what you want to illustrate, then focus on it.
  
  
• Take lots of pictures of the same subject. You don't know what will turn out, and you don't want to be left without good photos when it's too late.
  
  When you take multiple shots, adjust the settings on your camera each time, because different settings alter the photo and one may produce better results than another. Also, shift the angle of each shot, perhaps changing the way the light falls on it. If possible, go back at different times of day to get different kinds of light. The softer the light, the better the photograph; early morning or late afternoon light will usually give you the best shots.
  
  
• Develop an eye for composition. Think about what you want your photograph to convey and then frame a composition that focuses on it. Here are a few hints: the subject does not have to be in the center of the photo; it can be slightly off center. Or, you can balance several subjects in the photograph simultaneously. Experiment to see what looks best. This is another instance where lots of photos will pay off. It's also important not to have too much blank space in the foreground or background. This is a common problem with water shots: too much water in the foreground with a small boat in the distance is a dull shot. Focus on the boat, if that's your emphasis.
  
  
• Take horizontal and vertical shots. Some subjects look better vertically, some horizontally. Look through your viewfinder to see which looks best. If in doubt, take it both ways and decide later.
  
  

If You Have No Photographs

Invariably, there will be times when you don't have photographs. Many agencies and organizations, however, will give you free photographs. Consider the following:

• Chambers of Commerce. If you are writing an article about tourist attractions, outdoor activities, sporting events, museums, or restaurants in the region, these organizations will be happy to give you photographs.
  
  
• Departments of Tourism. I wrote two articles about my trip to Bermuda but was disappointed with my photographs. I called the Bermuda Department of Tourism and got all the photographs I could hope for.
  
  
• Nonprofit agencies and organizations. Many nonprofit organizations will be happy to give you photographs because your article provides publicity for them. I wrote an article about a conservation trust and they provided wonderful photographs.
  
  
• Businesses, for-profit organizations, and trade associations. If your article relates to a particular business, industry, or trade, these organizations can often provide excellent photographs, again usually free.
  
  
• Other photographers and stock agencies are wonderful sources of photographs, but you or the publication you're writing for will have to pay for them. Stock agencies have thousands of photographs. Look in the Yellow Pages or Photographers Market. Also, ask your photography teacher about photos and other photographers in your area.

Working Backwards

If you have some great photos but no specific use for them, don't put them in a drawer; build an article around them. When my photography class took a field trip to a wildlife reservation near my home, I got some great shots that were too good to put aside. I put together travel, recreation, and local activities articles about the reservation. If you have some terrific shots of children or pets, ask yourself what activity they were engaged in, or what's special about your pet or child that would make an interesting article, and write it.

Most of us are happy if our photos are good enough to submit with our articles. But if you enjoy photography and become good at it, nudge yourself into the writer/photographer group. Remember, the better the pictures, the more likely the sale, and, you can market your photographs separately and increase your income.

My camera has become an integral part of my writing gear and goes wherever I go. Sometimes, I capture images I didn't expect and later find a use for them. Other times, I think about images to accompany an article I've already written and go in search of them. But there is a lot of serendipity in this search: sometimes I get what I want, other times I'm frustrated, and other times are full of surprises and I get photographs I never anticipated.

Keep your camera loaded and easily accessible, and make it a complement to your writing.

Find Out More...

• Seven Steps to Professional Travel Photos, by Bob Difley
  
  
• Expanding Your Range as a Writer – with Your Camera, by Audrey Faye Henderson
  
  
• Using a Camera to Collect Stock Images - It's a Snap! by Gail Kavanagh