Five Tips for Taking Photos at Springtime Events

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	Balmy spring weather and festive family events make a great combination for creative outdoor photography. Whether it's a day in the park to celebrate Mother's Day, a picnic in the backyard for Dad or a graduation party for a group of schoolmates, bringing the action outdoors gives you a world of possibilities for adding natural appeal to your photos.
	Take Advantage of Memory-Making Opportunities Traditional spring holidays present a unique opportunity to record the changes in your family from year to year. Children grow, teenagers become young adults, and parents learn to be doting grandparents. The camera captures these subtle (and not so subtle) changes in your family and friends - preserving their growth, facial characteristics, even personalities. Make it a spring tradition to photograph these events every year, and start to create a visual family history.
	Look for Decorative Props The advantage of outdoor photography is the abundance of natural and man-made props suitable for posing small groups. For example, if you take Mom to the park for Mother's Day, look for park benches, colorful gardens or even a favorite statue to create the focal point of your family photo. For Father's Day, gather the family around the barbeque pit or a picnic table - even a wrought iron fence or stone gate makes a good backdrop, especially if it identifies the location. And don't forget pool parties - you can pose a group of school buddies sitting on the diving board or standing in the shallow end of the pool.
	Find the Best Natural Lighting Conditions Outdoor light varies with the time of day and weather conditions. For example, sunny midday light is very bright and harsh. It's great for photographing colorful objects, but can create deep shadows in peoples' faces. Early morning and late afternoon light is more diffused and tends to soften the shadows, though it may not eliminate them. Sunrise and sunset are considered the "golden hours," when the sun's position is low on the horizon and its light is tinted gold or rose by the extra layers of atmosphere it passes through before it reaches the subject. Contrary to popular belief, the ideal lighting for outdoor portraiture is not sunny bright. If possible, choose one of the following conditions: 1) the "golden hours" of early morning or late afternoon; 2) a day when the sunlight is weak and hazy; 3) cloudy bright conditions, when the sun is completely hidden by clouds; or 4) heavily overcast skies.
	Try Both Posed and Candid Photography When recording a special event, most people choose to take posed pictures of the group. Candid photography is a more spontaneous option, but only works well if the photographer is constantly on the lookout for impromptu photo opportunities. Our advice is to take both types of pictures, so you have a nice selection of images. When taking posed portraits, don't be afraid to direct your subjects to get the best possible results. Arrange the group in layers to create a pleasing composition, and if possible, use a decorative prop (like those mentioned above) to add interest to the scene. When shooting candids, don't be afraid to move in close to your subjects and focus in on their faces. If necessary, use your camera's optical zoom lens to focus in on more distant subjects.
	Tell a Story with Your Photos Photography is especially successful if it tells a story about the people, day and event involved. If it's a Mother's Day outing, be sure to photograph Mom interacting with the children, looking at the flowers or opening gifts while the kids look on. A graduation party will likely take place after the robe and cap have been removed, but if you ask your guests to bring their caps, you can set up a fun "tossing of the caps" in your back yard, or have everyone hold up their diplomas while cheering their accomplishments. Even the negative challenges of the day are worth recording, such as a rain shower that sends everyone scampering for shelter. Often the most unconventional pictures turn out to be your favorites, and will continue to spark happy memories for years to come. For more tips on digital photography, visit www.imaging-resource.com.