# We need some good pictures of our baby - photo tips required! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204 "2005-12-05T17:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204/21 "2005-12-06T19:26:55Z")
Another vote for getting the biggest card you can afford and just taking lots of shots. Always carry extra batteries. The lag time can be a drag, but you learn to live with it. Just keep shooting! Play with it! I think you can buy your way out of shutter lag by getting a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera. I have a tendency to get in my girls’ faces with the camera rather than use zoom. I get some interesting [facial expressions](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/Sarah.jpg) that way. OK, if you insist: Stunning [action](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/2005_0923Image0043.jpg) [shots!](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/2005_0923Image0040.jpg) Sometimes I’ll keep the [fuzzy ones](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/2005_0710Image0013.jpg) because I like an expression or some other aspect. Plus I’m their dad. What’s not to like? [Ambient](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/2005_0923Image0064.jpg) [lighting!](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/2005_0821Image0019.jpg) [Buddy](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/2005_0923Image0085.jpg) [pictures!](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/app_j_m/SophieandSarahatgate.jpg) I couldn’t get them to pose like this in a million years. Taken with a fujifilm finepix E510 on auto. I tend to photograph in spurts. I won’t touch the camera for a month, then I’ll take 250 shots in a weekend, won’t touch the camera for a month, etc. Also, don’t forget to shut off the camera after uploading pictures! I sometimes get all wrapped up in viewing pictures and leave the camera on. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204/22 "2005-12-06T19:41:50Z")
Great shots!!! Thanks for the tips … I took literally 100 shots last night and didn’t like even one of them! I used the portrait setting on my camera, had some ambient lighting, etc etc … some of them would have been okay but they were blurry! The portrait setting must have a slower shutter speed ? Also, I notice that the little LCD display on the camera shows a different ‘picture’ than the viewfinder. (I am one of those freaks that can’t close just one eye, so I can’t use the viewfinder unless I put one hand over my eye). The centering is different. It might look great on the LCD display but then when I look at the picture later, it’s like the picture has moved up … hard to explain, but it’s frustrating. I will get more batteries and keep on practicing … might even copy some of your great snaps … S. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204/23 "2005-12-06T20:25:49Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > I will get more batteries and keep on practicing … might even copy some of your great snaps … Here’s my tip of the day: Invest in some rechargeable batteries! ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204/24 "2005-12-06T20:26:49Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > Also, I notice that the little LCD display on the camera shows a different ‘picture’ than the viewfinder. (I am one of those freaks that can’t close just one eye, so I can’t use the viewfinder unless I put one hand over my eye). The centering is different. It might look great on the LCD display but then when I look at the picture later, it’s like the picture has moved up … hard to explain, but it’s frustrating. You can always take a “larger field” picture than you think you need, and then crop down to the right size… ---
**Author:** ![Joools](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@Joools](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joools)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204/25 "2005-12-07T06:48:52Z")
If you’re going to shoot without the flash, you’ll need to really practice not moving the camera during the shot. Get yourself set up, stay steady, squeeze the button, hold still, and don’t release until the shutter closes. It’s not easy to do, but you’ll get the hang of it. Of course, that doesn’t prevent your subject from moving all over the place, but it gives you a better chance of getting a few good shots in there. From my own experience, I got about one success for every twelve to fifteen shots. Hooray for digital cameras! And since this thread has become a thinly-veiled excuse for us to share some extremely cute pictures of our kids, I’ll offer my own [example](http://www.iangraybill.com/ian-january/ian-january-Pages/Image4.html). ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204/26 "2005-12-07T18:25:24Z")
You might be able to improve your picture quality by upping your dpi. Also, try giving up the viewfinder entirely! Just aim & shoot, grasshopper! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-some-good-pictures-of-our-baby-photo-tips-required/334204.md?page=1)