Guest Post | 6 Quick and Easy Tips for Taking Silhouette Photos

 1.)  Timing is Important
I typically set up to take my silhouettes about 30 minutes before sunset, when the sun is low in the sky.  I'll start shooting from then until shortly after sunset while the sky is still bright.  Once the sun sets, light disappears fast, so work quickly.


2.)  Expose for the sky, not your subject
Have your camera meter off a spot right next to the sun.  By exposing for the sky rather than your subject, they will be under-exposed, making them a silhouette.  Believe it or not, you do not need a fancy camera to do this!  If using a camera phone, just touch the sky on your screen before taking the picture.  TA-DA!  How cool is that?!


3.)  Get Down Low
When taking silhouettes, I like to see as much of my subject's outline as possible.  I don't like it when the horizon cuts them off.  So, I get down low (I usually lay flat on my stomach) and angle my camera upward.


4.)  Watch for Distracting Elements
The outline of your subject is very important since that's all that is seen in a silhouette.  Pay close attention to how your subject is standing and their angle to the camera.  Does it look like they're missing an arm or is a tree branch poking out of their head?


5.)   Create Visual Interest
Have your subjects do something.  They can hold hands, stick out their arms, jump, or do anything besides stand still with their arms by their side, looking like blobs.

6.)  Make the Sky Pretty
Play around with different editing software to make the sky even more amazing.  I use Adobe Lightroom 3 or Photoshop CS4, but you could use something as simple as PicTapGo on your iPhone (link: http://pictapgo.com/) to make quick edits to your photos.

Jennifer Krafchik, owner of Jennifer K Photography, has been a wife for eight years, a mama for three, and a professional photographer for two. Capturing life through her lens is one of her greatest obsessions and she looks forward to sharing this love with you each month. Keep up with her life as a mama to two little monkeys as well as her latest work and promotions by following her blog and Facebook page.