Pssssssssssssssst...I have a secret

When I was in sixth grade, I was in the backseat of a friend's car and next to me were three huge boxes overflowing with a plethora of smaller green boxes. When I asked what they were, her dad responded, "Film. I work for Fuji." For some reason, this was as cool and astonishing to me as if he'd said he was a Famous Movie Star. I couldn't believe I was in the presence of someone who worked in the photography industry. The world of photography, for some reason, seemed so exotic and exciting and creative and FANCY (fancy being important when you're twelve).

Isn't that weird? Not only that I had that reaction, but that it is something that I remember so vividly?

Years later, when I was a senior in high school, my mom gave to me that Christmas a camera over which I'd pined for months. She couldn't afford it, but somehow she managed to get it for me...I remember the delight and surprise I felt when I opened that box. I used that camera for years; all through my college photography courses, and it served me well in my first photography free-lance years.

For some reason, photography is something to which I have always been drawn...and I can say it, something for which I have a gift. Sometimes I think it's odd that I was drawn to it for years before I'd even clicked a shutter, and other times I think that makes perfect sense.

The thing is, cameras with their little digital minds are now so amazing that they take away any need to have the technical know-how. And you know what? Much of good composition, the foundation of successful picture-taking, is actually easily learned. You don't need to be born with "the eye." You can learn it, and I'm thrilled to be starting a series to help you do just that.

I know, I know...there are a 17,643,912 websites out there dedicated to photography tips. My series will be different in a variety of ways, but mostly in that I'm not going to try and teach you how to become a professional photographer. I want you to be able to take amazing, fabulous photographs of your family and friends. You don't need to hire a professional photographer (but don't tell my clients that, teehee); you can do it yourself. Not only can you do it, you can do it better than a professional...better, and of course, at a fraction of the cost to you.

I'm also not going to get all technical on your ass...this is just the fundamentals of composition which, when broken down and then reassembled, add up to wonderful photographs. Each tip will be helpful on its own, but the more you implement in each photograph, the better that picture will be!

Look for the first secret tomorrow!