One of the easiest ways to make your photos look more professional is by not chopping off limbs in the wrong places. You don’t want to chop off part of the head, hands or feet.

This is probably the hardest thing for me to do when it comes to composition. When shooting children, they move so fast that sometimes fingers or toes get cut off. Just keep in mind that when you are able to, take a step back to prevent chopping off something in the wrong place.

Fingers:
Bad example

Solutions

Feet:
Bad example

Solutions

Head – if you are going to crop a head make sure it is intentional :O)
Bad example

Solutions

Random hands– Another thing you don’t want are random hands in your photo and not being able to see who they are attached to.
Bad example

Solution

Keep in mind that if you love a picture and it is not technically correct then who cares about the technical aspect. Here is an example of one of my favorite photos of my girls. Just a random moment I caught between the two of them, unfortunately, there are many limb chops here. I don’t care! I still like it :O)

You also don’t want to chop off arms and legs at the joints.

Elbows:
Bad example

Solution

Wrists and ankle:
Bad example

Solution

Knees:
Bad example:

Solution

This compositional rule is one that is so easy to do, your children can do it! Read more about involving your child in your love for photography: Photography for Kids

Check back tomorrow to see photos from our trip to Tokyo and take part in our first GIVEAWAY!!!