Sea Lion, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

Find Your Writing Niche:

Take Pictures to go with the Story

Editors may ask writers to submit pictures with their stories, so there are a few pointers beginning writers should remember.

1)Get a “real” camera. Sure, cell phones can take clear pictures, but they don’t have the breadth of choices that a camera has.

2)The biggest mistake amateur photographers make is standing too far away from the subject. It’s not necessary to get a person from head to toe. Stand close enough to get a good picture of the person’s face and expression.

3)Check background. Don’t let a cord hanging from the ceiling look like it’s coming from the top of the person’s head.

4)Have to take a picture of an antique lamp, Christmas cactus or bowl of fruit? Place the item against a blank wall or on a white cloth.

5)Take several pictures. People blink, move, gape and do any number of things just as you snap the photo. You also may move inadvertently and get a blurry image. Get the best picture you can. I often take a dozen of the same subject, four dozen-plus when lots of people or scenes are involved.

Enter my contest. See previous blog, “Katharine Ashe,” at jamathews.com/blog.