Take Great Photos for Your Personal Page

People get excited about images, especially images of people, much more than they do about words on a page.

So, if you want people to like your page and maybe stay a while then you need something to attract them. Words are good, and well written text will work, but most people are held initially by images. In fact, ordinary photographs are the best way to hold the visitor's attention particularly if they're well taken so, to help you, here are our 8 top tips:

1. The most important part of taking a picture occurs the second before you press the shutter. Make a point of always pausing and looking at what you're shooting and ask this question. "If I move the camera can I get a better shot?" So often an ordinary photo could have been special by taking it from a different angle - like a low angle or a high one or deliberately putting the subject at the side of the shot. Try it and see for yourself what you can achieve.
2. Don't take photos into the sun unless you know what you're doing and learn how to take good pics at night, this can make all the difference to how your photos look. Good night photos can make a page look special.
3. We want to see what your friends look like! Take close-ups and not far-away pics and try to take them unaware to avoid that 'posed' look - give them something to do while you snap away.
4. Learn how to use flash as a fill-in as well as how to take good flash photos at night. Know when to use it and when to turn it off.
5. You need a balance of action photos and close up portraits - too many of either sort makes your photos look either too manic or too boring. Try to put action and portrait photos of the same person next to each other.
6. If you have a camera with lots of extra functions learn how to use them and take time to experiment. Good photography in adverse conditions is something people notice and remember and will make your photos stand out from the crowd - but only if you do it right.
7. Digital photos are 'free' there's no film to buy so never take one photo when half a dozen would give you more choice. Remember, more choice gives more chance of finding that one special one that will stand out.
8. Most of all, enjoy your photography, have fun and experiment and it will show through in your pictures, making your page memorable and worth a second look.