Photography has always been a favorite of many. As a professional photographer in this amazing age of digital photography it blows my mind to see what amateur photographers are doing! People have access to better equipment and are taking better pictures.

We see this every day in our Do-It-Yourself photography studio Lens Friends. One of my favorite things to see is the light in someone’s eyes when we give instruction. Here are a few simple steps to make your sessions go a little easier and less stressful.

The number one rule is to have fun. If you aren't having fun then neither is your subject. To keep your subject’s attention, make it a game. Ask them questions, keep them involved. Distraction is key. Subjects will put themselves in fantastic poses naturally. Holding a conversation helps your subject put their guard down; giving you a relaxed natural expression.

Use your flash outside.Using your flash outdoors seems odd, but it will help to fill in dark shadows on your subject’s face on a sunny day.

You can also eliminate shadows by placing your subjects in the shade.Doorways with an overhang are one of my favorite places. You get the shade from the overhang but benefit from the sunlight reflecting back into your subject’s eyes.

Group shots: try not to stack people directly behind someone else's head. Stagger your subjects to be able to see them clearly.

Take pictures in the moment. There really is nothing funnier than an image of a two year old pouting and just think what kind of blackmail you'll have for later.

Take more than one shot. It's digital!

Lens Friends is a DIY photography studio that offers 30-minute photography sessions, birthday parties, photography classes, and special events for networking. Need a new Facebook cover photo or headshot for your business, we do that too! Stop into the studio this summer and have your picture taken with our fuzzy Golden Retriever pups. Lens Friends is open to everyone to take pictures of anything we can fit inside our studio. Like us on Facebook for upcoming events, photography tips and more.