How to Take Graduation Photos You Really Love
Graduation is a big deal because most of the time you can only be photographed once. Once your graduate has gone through the stage to receive his high diploma, you will not have the opportunity to redo it because you have missed a vital moment.
No matter how awkward your loved ones look in caps and dresses, you’ll want to capture the milestone to the fullest. Here are some tips for taking great graduation photos.
Increase the ISO and try to isolate the subject
Graduation ceremonies usually take up a lot of space. It is by far the best option to use a telephoto lens, which is primarily designed for people who are far away from the camera. This will help you wade through the crowd and focus your shot on your preferred subject as opposed to all the other alumni you don’t know.
What’s more, telephoto lenses are good at blurring the background of the image, so the subject really shines. They’re also great for portrait photography, which is basically exactly what you want, albeit from a distance. As Borrow Lenses points out , this type of lens is especially suitable for your subject.
This effect can also make facial features more proportional. Add to that the beautiful bokeh from long lens shooting and you’ve got a great tool for portrait photography.
Another key if you are using a DSLR – and especially if you are not an expert – is boosting the ISO function. ISO stands for your camera’s sensitivity to light. When you’re using a long lens or photographing a fast-moving subject – like a sprinter or even a person walking across a stage – a higher ISO will help you get sharper images.
A lower but still somewhat high ISO is recommended if you are shooting in daylight, but this becomes even more important in low light conditions such as a huge gym. The School of Digital Photography details some of the best practices:
Of course, in bright light, you can set the ISO to 100 or 200 and get sharp, well-exposed images. But when the lights start to dim, you’ll need to steadily raise the ISO. Thus, you can take bright and clear photos at distances of 300mm, 400mm and more.
Another tip, especially for non-professionals who may not have fancy lenses, is to turn on automatic camera settings. If you do this, you can also try using an autofocus lens, which will allow you to relax and just enjoy the process.
And of course, think about flash (or not). Nikon only recommends using it if you are near your subject and indoors – two conditions that probably won’t apply to your graduation ceremony at the same time.
Unless you’re relatively close [read: in class], don’t worry about using the flash. The flash will not reach your subjects, so it will not help with exposure and can drain your batteries.
Pointers to good images to capture
Good photographers – even amateurs – capture subtle moments. So, you need to find a healthy balance between hidden holiday portraits and staged photos.
One point that needs to be emphasized, at least in a thematic sense, is that this is a prom, which means that the accessories of such an event – hat and dress, school, diploma, etc. – should be in the spotlight. Basically, you’ll want to try a bunch of different things, all within the broader category of portraiture. Take a photo of the graduate with family, friends, and others as they see fit. Try to incorporate the school’s campus according to the Mimeo Photos guidelines , which states:
The porches and porticoes are perfect. You won’t regret putting this photo in front of a school sign or mascot statue.
When it comes to shooting real portraits, experts recommend using longer lenses for them, which for people shooting with full-frame DSLRs means “lenses with a focal length of usually 70mm to 200mm,” according to DP Mag . As photographer and writer Jack Crosby told Lifehacker, longer lenses “make things flatter, which is more flattering for people.” On the other hand, a wide lens sometimes make people look bigger and disproportionately reality .
Even if your photography skills are sorely lacking, keep in mind all the big holiday events that usually define the day, such as throwing a hat, walking around a stage, and having fun with friends.