Source: Karen S. Freeman / iMore
This twelvemonth's graduation festivities accept been weird, to say the to the lowest degree. My son graduated from college this year, though at that place was no ceremony. Not to exist deterred by the cancellation of kickoff, we decided to put those caps and gowns to expert use. We rounded up his flat-mates for some photos before they all scatter to their various corners of the country. So, I pulled out my iPhone 11 Pro, stood six anxiety away, and took some photos. I was pretty happy with the results, considering I had less than an hour to play with. Hither are some tips, in example y'all're going to be taking your own graduation photos.
Low-cal is everything
I cannot overstress the importance of light. Nighttime photography is catchy and best left to professionals, merely in a compression, Night Manner is far better than using a flash. Bright sunlight isn't really ideal for photos either, as you get weird shadows on the face up. The "golden hour," or the hour right before sunset or after sunrise is the perfect time to have photos. At that time, the lighting is soft, diffuse, and gives your subject a warm, flattering glow.
Unfortunately, I was not able to shoot during the aureate hour, but we lucked out with a partly cloudy solar day, which is the next best matter. If you exercise accept a bright, sunny day, try to do your photoshoot in the shade. Yous tin can even shoot indoors next to a window. Have your grad stand so that the light falls upon gently upon their face; you don't desire the light coming from backside them. Nor do yous desire it shining in their face so hard that they squint.
Location, location, location
Source: Karen S. Freeman / iMore
Every campus has its iconic spots, plus your graduate volition take their ain favorite spots that have fond memories associated with them. Your photos will exist much more meaningful if your properties includes these unique places, rather than just random trees or bushes. Program ahead and then your grad can put some thought into which locations best represent their years in school to them.
Mix it upwardly. Spread your photoshoot effectually different locations, if possible. I only managed to hit 2, but If I'd had hours to shoot, I would definitely have hit many more than memorable, interesting, and beautiful places effectually campus.
Don't forget nearly calorie-free. The most gorgeous spot on campus won't brand a good backdrop if your grad is bathed in harsh sunlight with a shadow cutting across his or her face.
Recall like a stylist
If you tin bring another person to be your stylist, great, simply if not, you'll need to do your ain styling. Ideally, you'd want to coordinate the clothing of anybody in the photos (I did not have that opportunity.) The gown should be slap-up and pressed. Wearing the cap is bad-mannered, simply exist certain it'south placed on the caput correctly. You might utilise bobby pins to secure it.
If y'all're shooting multiple grads, make sure everyone's tassels lie on the same quadrant of the cap. In our shoot, we decided on the front right quadrant. Find a spot that's not windy, or the tassels will fly around and look weird. If your grad is wearing honor cords or other ornamentations over the gown, make sure the ends are even.
We were limited with our grads' quarantine hair here, but ideally, you'd want to make sure your grad's pilus looks tidy. Be certain at that place are no stray strands sticking upwardly or bravado across the face. If makeup is worn, just bank check to be sure it looks right (or have your grad check in a mirror) periodically; you don't want lipstick on the teeth or flaky mascara.
Composition counts
Source: Karen Due south. Freeman / iMore
No photography article is complete without mentioning the rule of thirds, which makes photos more engaging. Equally you fix to shoot, imagine your iPhone screen has a tic-tac-toe grid drawn on it, dividing your screen into ix equal pieces. All of the essential elements of your photo should be forth those lines. Horizons should lie one of the horizontal lines. If y'all have just one face up in the picture, ideally it would be at one of the four intersections. Y'all can literally place this grid on your iPhone photographic camera; go to Settings>Camera>Grid and toggle the switch.
If you're shooting more than one person, put some thought into how they are bundled. I asked them to stand up in meridian order, with the tallest person in the middle, which forms a pleasing pointer shape. Echoing the shapes effectually the subjects makes for nice photo limerick. Every bit the guys' heights go up and down, so do the arches in a higher place and behind them.
Use your lenses
Source: Karen South. Freeman / iMore
Many smartphone cameras accept multiple lenses, and then don't forget to use them. The iPhone 11 Pro has a wide-bending lens that comes in handy when you're trying to capture more than of what's around yous. Using the wide-angle lens hither, I was able to get the full name of the stadium without having to stand out in the middle of the street.
Apply that telephoto lens when y'all want to become in closer than social altitude allows. By quickly toggling the lens on your phone, you can get a variety of shots without having to motility around.
Experiment
Source: Karen South. Freeman / iMore
You'll exist taking a lot of photos; don't make them all look the same. Don't be agape to experiment with unlike angles. Rather than taking every single shot straight on, I squatted downwardly and shot up at the guys, only to alter things up. The iPhone photographic camera (as well every bit all other smartphone cameras) has several interesting features. Utilize them! Use HDR when you're in a potential backlighting state of affairs. Accept a panorama shot if the location warrants that. Why not have some video, or irksome-move video, or fifty-fifty fourth dimension-lapse photos if you actually desire to get cocked. What do you lot have to lose (other than your graduate's patience)?
Portrait mode and Alive Photo
Source: Karen S. Freeman / iMore
Of all the special features on the iPhone, Portait mode might be the almost appropriate for grad photos. Portrait mode blurs out the background, "bokeh"-manner, making the subject of your photos actually popular. As soon as I mentioned Portrait mode, each of the guys clamored for me to take their private photos. Y'all can actually control the corporeality of background mistiness, and then it's not an all or zip situation.
Source: Karen Southward. Freeman / iMore
Live Photograph is i of my favorite iPhone camera features. I ever have Live Photo turned on; it takes a couple of seconds of video before and after each photograph y'all take. Sure, you can use Live Photo to make GIFs, but what I used Live Photo for here was to cull the best frame. After taking a photograph of the guys jumping, I scrolled through each frame and chose my favorite mid-air shot.
Accept fun
Source: Karen S. Freeman / iMore
Every image doesn't have to be super serious, does information technology? The guys just spontaneously decided they needed to exercise this fish shot, or any they chosen information technology. No, it's not a "great photo," but certainly, they will look dorsum at it and grin. Information technology captures their personalities, their spirit, and their close-knit friendships.
Whether your graduate got to have a formal commencement ceremony or not, doing a photoshoot similar this actually did provide some fun and some closure for my son and his best friends. Graduation caps off years of hard work, an achievement that deserves to exist celebrated no matter what. Don't forget the archetype "tossing of the cap" shot!
Source: Karen S. Freeman / iMore
Silicone simplicity
Review: Just slip a Bluebonnet case on your AirTag and go
Soft, stretchy, and bright blue, the Bluebonnet AirTag Instance is a straightforward solution that keeps your AirTag safely attached to just about anything. It as well displays both sides of the AirTag so your personalization shines through.
A whole new world
Look at the world in a new view with the best 360-degree camera
Shooting 360-degree video is now a simple technology that is widely available. There are tons of options bachelor today that will have you capturing all of the beautiful surroundings you encounter. Hither's a list of some of the best options!
Source: https://www.imore.com/how-take-professional-looking-photos-your-grad-without-professional-photographer
