We all remember those pictures our moms took of us years ago where it looks like she stood 50 feet away before she took the shot. You don’t have to have an amazing and expensive camera to get good pictures. Below are a few of my tips to taking better snapshots of your family and friends.

1. Read your camera’s manual. I know it’s not the most exciting of reads, but if you know your camera and what it can do, your pictures can be amazing! Keep it handy and check it often for refreshers on how to achieve the type of photo you want. 

2. Take a second before you shoot. I know sometimes you’ve got a split second to get that once-in-a-lifetime shot, but most of the time you can take a moment before you take the photo to ensure that the settings on your camera are set correctly. Look through the viewfinder, and don’t only look at what you are photographing but also look beyond that point. Is there a pole in the background that will look like it’s sticking out of the heads of the people you are shooting? Do the people in your picture have shadows on half of their faces? Make sure you’ve got the best picture you want before you take them.

 3. Zoom in or step closer. Move in closer to get a facial expression or to get a more intimate picture. You don’t have to have everything in the picture. Focus on what you are taking a picture of and keep the rest out of the photo.

 4. Take a breath. Breathe in, hold your breath, keep still, and snap the photo. Even breathing can cause the camera shake. Reduce blurry pictures by just holding your breath while you push the button.

5. Law of thirds. Look through your view finder and imagine that your image is split into thirds diagonally and horizontally (making nine total squares). Put the focus of your photo at one of the intersecting lines. It helps bring focus to your subject.

6. Practice makes perfect. Even professionals practice. Keep working at it, by taking tons of pictures, and you’ll surely get beautiful snapshots.

Tara Brooks is the owner of Tara Brooks Photography and the mother of five. Check out her work at www.tarabrooksphotography.blogspot.com. Read her previous blog post on 3girlsandapug.com titled “Look Like Rockstars in Your Next Family Photo Shoot.”