Avoid Wasted Space in Portraits

This is your captain, Captain Hook and I instruct you to take better photos or you’ll walk the plank. Ha! Now pay attention. Mr. Smee, kindly pose for a photograph.

Notice that Mr. Smee is centered, perfectly focused with sunlight coming in from the right giving separation between him and the background as well as highlights. All wonderfully marvelous things, however, far too much space above Mr. Smee’s head detracts from the portrait. We call this excess headroom. You don’t want such wasted space in your photographs, do you? No, you do not.

The photograph you should take is just like the previous one but properly framed. Mr. Smee is the subject and should be treated with respect. When you approach or zoom into the person to eliminate excess headroom you’ll also take away empty space on the sides.

These easy to remember tools make an enormous difference in the family album. Set out on your next adventure and remember what I said because Captain Hook never breaks a promise.

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