How to Hold a Camera

Birthday parties present many photo ops. Don't just shoot for quantity though, a few quality photos are more precious than many poor ones. Here are some tips on improving the quality of your photos.

The world must freeze when you press that camera button or your photos won't be sharp. The world usually freezes that split second your camera shutter is open … but you don’t, and the camera shakes. That’s the most common reason our images are blurry.

Here’s what contributes to camera shakes. Avoid these situations.

• Not enough light. The shutter is opened longer as it attempts to let in more light. This makes it harder for you to hold the camera still the entire period the shutter is open.
• Holding the camera at arms length, even worse, with just one hand. While this might be a good way to frame your shot or to get camera close to subject, your extended arms tend to sway or shake as you take your shot.
• Pressing the shutter button too hard. The new digital cameras are so light that you could give it a good shake if you press the shutter too hard – at the split second it matters most.
• Breathing. I’m not kidding. Even the slightest movement is all it takes to lose that sharpness in your image.

The best way to kill a camera shake is a 3-legged camera tripod. Even monopods - it collapses to a stick, is handy to carry around and allows quicker swivel movements - makes a big difference.

But you won’t always have a tripod with you. Many digital compact cameras may not even be attachable to a tripod. What then? Play the video below to watch a professional photographer’s tips to minimize camera shakes without a tripod: