Are you one of those people who loves to take pictures but the ones you take outside of your friends, family, ect. don’t quite turn out the way you want them to. For example their faces are shadowed or there is a harsh glare. Obviously you don’t want that to be the case, you want these pictures to turn out beautiful and compliment the people you are taking a picture of.

1) Avoid Direct Sunlight: Find shade or wait until a cloud covers the sun. Direct sunlight is simply far too harsh for photos. If you want to avoid harsh shadows on people’s faces, find a spot of shade to place your subject in. What shade does is gives you a non-directional pleasant light. Give a try sometime and you will be pleased with the outcome.

2) Use a reflector: You can buy reflectors specifically for photography, but you also have the option to use a piece of white mat board, or reflectors for car windshields. You want to position the reflector so it shines/reflects light onto the subjects face on the shadow side. The result will be filled in shadows and even light on your subject.

3) Use your flash: I’m sure you noticed that on auto mode your camera automatically turns the flash off when in a bright environment. You can override this and if you turn on the flash you will be pleasantly surprised by the results. (You can turn on the flash by pressing the button that resembles a flash of lightening.) Using the flash will brighten up the subject without effecting the background much and will fill in the shadows created by the sun.

4)  Fix your shutter speed: If you are photographing moving subjects like children, make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/125th of a second, and preferably 1/250th or faster. This will keep them from blurring as they move about. You can usually accomplish this automatically by putting your camera into action mode, or sports mode.

5) Positioning the subject: You should place the subject with their back turned almost straight towards the sun, and use your flash to illuminate the subject. The flash will illuminate the person’s face, the sun will shine beautifully through their hair and the ambient light will even the shadows for you. If you do this you will also avoid that squinting that people do when they have to look at the sun. Note you may have to use your hand to shade the lends so the sunlight does create what is known as a lens flare.  This will also avoid the squinty look from having the people staring into the sun.

Finally: Just for fun; remember to keep your subjects happy so you can capture that smile you love to see. 

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Having hard time taking pictures of your pooch? Here are some photography tips for you...

The average dog lover is under the impression that her dog's looks is enough to give that fabulous calendar-Weimaraner or Afghan Hound a run for their money. Nevertheless, more work is really needed, if our average-amateur is to ever match the skill of the vibrancy and composition of the experts.

Schedule the shoot. It is obvious that still-portraits of the so-called sensitive sort will be far easier to implement after a three mile run, not before it. Not much Cockapoo Training to burn on this tip.

Shoot plenty of photos. Whatever the subject, this must be among the most basic tips in improving one's camera work. More clicking of the shutter means greater chances of quality shots. And don't forget to get an extra battery.

Go down to your dog's level. Standing over your dog and focusing downwards lead to photos that are similar to most of what is out there. In other words, literally see your dog at eye level, and there are more chances of quality shots.

Get your dog used to the camera. Initially, the blinding flash and the whirring noise can disorient and startle your dog. But let your dog take a good sniff at the camera, then afterwards casually take shots of the surroundings (those using film will want to orient the dog to the camera while it does not have film).

Keep the whole thing natural and relaxed. One thing that definitely does not work is the waving of treats at your dog, all the while saying excitedly how cute it is and how you want to take its photo.

Use the background to your advantage. Choose backgrounds that bring out the best in your dog or complement its form and-or color: rows of ramrod straight trees, white sand beaches.

Turn off flash. Many amateur would-be artists prefer working with the natural warmth of sunlight. Minimize the wash-out look by shooting in days with a slight overcast, in the shade during a sunny day, or in the mornings or evenings.

Here's a trick for a more natural-looking shot if you have an off-camera flash. As you press the shutter, swivel it upward so the light's bouncing off the ceiling.

Experiment with your artistic touch. Try coming closer until your dog's face fills the view. Snap photos of your dog in profile, at angles, head on, ... all these are fields for your creativity to investigate. Besides, who knows if future admirers of your work will say the most meaningful was a shot of your dog's unique tail curl, or unusual ear folds, or blow-up of its face wrinkles?

Lastly, its good to get assistance too. For an even wider range of action photos, get a friend to distract your dog with a chew toy as you keep clicking away. Check too, if the dog will instead go loco once it sees its toys. This explains the meaning of knowing your dog in Cockapoo Training.

Richard Cussons is a long-time dog enthusiast who loves to write articles including cockapoo training. Check out cockapoosavvy.com for more cockapoo training advice.