Beginners Photography - Why You Should Hold Your Digital Camera Correctly!

How to hold your camera? What's that all about? You just plonk it in your hand and get on with it, surely? Understandably, to most beginners, photography is all about learning the exciting bits such as composition, which camera settings to use and techniques for taking portraits, landscapes or any other type of image. But a fundamental to grasp (no pun intended) is actually how to hold your camera correctly before taking your photograph. It's worth taking a little time to practice this. Get it wrong and it undermines everything else you are trying to achieve. It's like building a house without laying foundations first.

Basically what we want to achieve is a "shake - free" shot. Many a potentially decent photo is ruined because the camera was not held steadily in the first place. Even using post-production tricks in Photoshop will not mend a blurred image caused by shakiness. In all situations, the photographer must use every tool in his arsenal to take the very best shot he can, so that applications such as Photoshop are used only how intended, which is to enhance rather than repair.

The exact method you should use will vary slightly depending on the type of camera you use but, as far as beginner's photography tips go, apply the following and you will not go far wrong.

Using your right hand, grip the right hand end of the camera. Your forefinger should be poised above the shutter button, and your remaining fingers curled around the front. This leaves just your thumb, which should be gripping the camera's back. Modern cameras have grips or indentations that naturally mimic this action. Generally, your left hand supports the weight of the camera, and will sit under or just around the lens, if using a Digital SLR.

If you use the viewfinder to set up your shot, the camera will be close to your body, so this plus the grip mentioned above should provide good stability. If using an LCD screen to view your image, don't hold the camera too far away from you, although this may be an easy habit to get into. Tuck your elbows right in, then hold the camera just a short distance (around 30 cm) from your face.

All you need to get right now is your stance - it's no good having the right grip if your legs are unsteady. If available, use a wall or other solid object to lean against. The alternative is to kneel or sit down. Obviously, this is not always possible so if you are free standing you must make sure you are as stable as possible. The particular stance I use is to position my subject at 45 degrees to the left of my actual standing position. With my right foot pointing straight ahead I turn myself slightly to the left with my left foot at 45 degrees to the right foot (so my left foot is pointing straight at the subject). My feet are shoulder width apart.

And that's it. A basic, but easy to take for granted, element of beginner's photography, that if you get wrong can ruin a photo before it has even been taken.