Tips to Avoid Blurry Photos

Sometimes you may want some aspect of your photo blurry. You want only the person or object in focus and the background blurry. When your entire photo is blurry or your point of interest is blurry it is possibly because; (1) you and/or the camera was moving (2) your subjects were moving (3) your camera was not in focus when you released the shutter because you were too far or too close to your subjects or your camera was still in the process of focusing when you snapped the picture.

The biggest culprit behind blurry photos is movement. Remember these tips when you are photographing:

1.      Always take at least two or three photos of the same scenario. Chances are you will capture what you want as long as your camera is properly focused.

2.      Inform your subjects you will take three photos and you need them all to be quiet and still (no chewing gum, turning heads, laughing, perfectly still). Tell them you will count to three and then begin shooting. You will say “got it” when you are finished.

3.      Make sure you wait for your camera to focus and don’t move your camera while the shutter is releasing. Often people hear click and move the camera. Give your camera a few seconds to close the shutter completely.

4.      Make sure you and the camera are perfectly still when you release the shutter.

a.       Just before you release the shutter take in a deep breath, then hold your breath while shooting. This mean you too should not talk while photographing.

b.      Place the camera on or buttress it up next to something solid and steady like a pole, table, ledge or tripod.

In the photo below, the boy to the left popped into the photo at the last minute creating a blurry effect. The point of focus, the boy in the center of the picture is crystal clear. This photo can be cropped to remove the blurry boy in the background or you can leave it because you like it. I decided to leave the boy in the photo because I like the contrast. It’s an accident that turned out perfect. It’s a perfect representation of sibling rivalry.

Have a Successful Day!

Renee Brown, Freelance photographer & Graphic designer and Mentor/Teacher

Email:             rSnapshotPhotos@gmail.com

website:         www.rSnapshotPhotos.com

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