Do a little housekeeping for posed shots

by Mary Fjellstad
(Smithtown, NY)

When ever I take a posed picture...birthday cake, group shot etc. I always take stock of what will be in the frame. Anything that will be distracting in the foreground or background I either move or reposition myself so that it will not be in the finished shot. An object growing out of someone's head, a glass or ketchup bottle on a table or a bright light source that can be distracting later on. It really pays to do it up front instead of trying to photo shop it out later.
I will even rearrange furniture if it is just a table or lamp that takes away from a good group shot. I am always double checking that there isn't a plant or light fixture sticking up behind someone's head. It makes for a more polished looking shot.