Family Session

I just posted some pics from my latest family session on the new blog, www.elyfairphotos.com/blog. Lara, Bryan and Geneva were a lot of fun, even on (what I am convinced) was the coldest day of fall so far! Because of that, it made me think of a photo tip that I wanted to share with you. I know I haven't done these in a while, I'm sorry.

Photo Tip # I can't remember: I always grumble when it is rainy or cold, because it makes my job difficult. But, on the other hand,  it is good because it makes me think outside the box. I love outside shots, but the shot below is one of my favorite, and it came from the need to warm up! We stopped in after our first location to grab a cup of coffee, and the local proved to be a good spot to snap a couple shots. Shooting inside can be frustrating sometimes because you can't get as much light as outside (duh, but there was no other way to say it).

All that to say, here is my photo tip. This one is specifically for those of you who have an slr camera. Next time you are in a situation where there is not enough light to take a photo with out the flash, play with your ISO. In film, ISO means how sensitive the film is to light. Essentially, it is the same thing in digital, but it effects the image sensor. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive it is to light, so it will allow you to take photos in sitiuations where there isn't as much light. "Well, Elyse, why wouldn't you just keep it at the highest number all the time then??" Good question. There is a trade off for quality. A higher ISO will produce a more 'grainy image,' not as sharp, especially when blown up. A middle of the range ISO is 400, and gives you a pretty crisp image, but still allows for room in your exposure.

So, break out your manuals and play with the ISO settings. You might be surprised with the results!