Taking Better Pictures
If you think you have to have a professional camera, lighting gear, and a certification from the National Photography Association to take excellent pictures, think again. Expert photographers say taking better pictures is well within your reach if you follow a few simple rules.

Get Closer
When you are taking pictures of people, you should fill the frame with them and not the visual clutter in the background (unless you are trying to record your green couch for posterity).

Nick Kelsh, author of How to Photograph your Baby, says, “As a professional, I probably spend more time thinking about what’s in the background than what’s in the foreground. A bad background draws the life out of an otherwise vibrant photograph.”

When you get really close, you don’t even have to worry about the background.

One thing that most amateur photographers often miss is realizing how elements in the background can "pop" out and ruin your pictures. For example, watch for flag poles, chimneys, or any other unusual background objects to ensure they are not "growing" out of your subject's head. Once you start to notice this one, you will never look at photographs the same. You will always look to see if the photo's subject accidentally contains elements growing out of his/her head.

Take a Lot of Pictures
According to photographer Kelli France of France Photography, don't be afraid to take lots of pictures.

"For every roll I take," France explains, "I plan on only a couple pictures turning out really nice."

There are so many factors that can make a potentially good picture look bad; a bad facial expression, camera blur, bad lighting, a distracting background, etc. The more pictures you take the better your chances are of taking a really good shot.

" Don’t be afraid to take an entire roll of film at one time," France says.

Use Natural Light
"I do the opposite of what most people do: I use a flash outdoors and no flash indoors, France says. "I love taking photos outdoors because natural lighting makes beautiful pictures."

To avoid harsh shadows, take outdoor shots in the morning or before the sun sets. When taking pictures indoors, use light from a window or an open door to create beautiful depth. To do this, place your subject where the light is shining on either their left or right side, then shoot.

Follow the Rule of Thirds
According to photography experts at www.smartdraw.com, you should divide the image into three sections.

"Placing your subject off-center creates an interesting, dynamic image. Imagine your photograph divided into three horizontal and vertical sections. To compose a well-balanced, off-center shot, place your subject near the intersections of the imaginary grid lines. This is called the rule of thirds."

Try Unique Poses
Most people forget that there are a million ways to pose people besides sitting or standing with a smile. Have your subjects try different facial expressions. Place them in interesting poses. Give their hands something to do so they don’t look stiff. Look in magazines for pose ideas to add variety to your pictures.

Copy the Pros
When you see a creative picture that you like, try it out.

"I’d seen many pictures of babies with angel wings on, so I purchased some wings and took pictures of my baby girl, France said. "I was very pleased with the results. My mother used to always say, 'Don’t try to reinvent the wheel,' meaning that it’s okay to duplicate what others have found to be successful."

Try Black and White Film
Black and white film has made a real come back in the last five years. More and more amateurs and professionals are turning to this classic film to capture drama and emotion. France agrees that black and white is a wonderful photography choice.

"I absolutely love black and white pictures," France says. "They look so classy and are very forgiving."

Have your subjects wear either black, white, or nothing’ but a diaper to create contrast.

Experiment and Record Your Results
If you want to improve your photos, record what you did when you had a picture turn out really nice. What setting did you have your camera on? What kind of film did you use? What was the lighting situation? If you don’t write it down, you will forget!

Develop your Film at a Nice Camera Lab- (It’s Worth the Extra Money)
Most grocery store photo labs do mass printing, meaning less quality.

"I took a roll of black and white film to a cheap photo lab. My prints came back pretty dark and, at first, I thought that I must not have used the proper lighting situation. However, when I printed them myself, they turned out perfect. If you want your photos to look excellent, take them to a lab that specializes in developing film. Try different places and stick with one that gives you excellent results. "