Here’s how to compose better shots immediately!

Next time you want to shoot something, pay attention to what’s in the background of your viewfinder.

Here’s a composition ruined by stuff in the background, and how to fix it.

It's a crab. Wait... It's a guy with a huge gut!

This shot could be about a horseshoe crab.  Or it may be about the dude in the background sporting a very well developed beer-belly.  If you can’t easily tell, then the composition is just not working too well.

How to Correct Bad Compositions. (Simplified)

If there’s something that looks weird in your background, then  change your shooting perspective.

• Move the camera a few feet over, and check again.
• Ask the subject to move over a few steps.
• Give the father next to you a lollipop to switch seats at the school dance recital  that nobody’s going to watch anyway…  So I’m not sure why you even bothered to bring your video camera.  Hey, look.  Every other parent has brought their cameras too.  WHO is going to have to watch this video?  The Mom’s parents.  That’s who.  Will they WANT to watch?  I doubt it.  They’ll watch it all right- just to be polite.  Then, they’ll look at me with those… those eyes…

(Woa.  I digress.)

This shot is definitely about the horseshoe crab

The above problem was fixed by taking a few steps to my right.

Now, I can happily shoot away without having to subject my audience to unwanted guttage.

If my wife is still reading…  Go out there, and frame up some awesome looking shots!

Of course you do.

Using the appropriate amount of Head Room for your subject will do the trick.

Head Room describes the amount of space there is in your video/photo composition between the top of your picture and the top of your subject’s head.

First, some bad Head Room compositions:

This Head Room is too Big.

This is not a terrible composition, but it could be better if the kid in the shot was higher in the frame’s composition.

This Head Room is just right!

This picture is more nicely composed.  Why?

• You, the viewer, feel like you’re sharing the same perspective as the subject.  This LOOKS like what you would SEE if you were there, with the child.

Another example of poor Head Room:

This Head Room was Too Small.

Again, this is not an awful picture.  It could, however,  be a better shot if the girl filled the frame more naturally.

This Head Room is just right. And it's still there!

This framing looks better.

So, let’s review…

Don’t be a schlep!   Use good composition practices”

• Keep your subject’s head in the frame of your shot.
• Allow some space above your subject’s head.  Roughly between 1/5 to 1/8 the height of the frame.

If we’re clear on all that, then you may go out, and shoot some awesome video!