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These are some tips to get better holiday photographs:

BE PREPARED: Take your camera (believe me, it happens), charged battery, battery charger, empty memory card (think twice the amount of pictures you expect to shoot), additional accessories such as a tripod, filters, etc. If you are heading for a family gathering, make a list of any special portrait or group photo ideas.

GET CLOSE: Get as close to your subject as you can, especially if you are photographing people. Try to fill the whole frame with the subject you are trying to capture.

COMPOSITION: Sometimes it makes sense to place your subject in the centre of the frame. That is the case, for example, of group pictures. If you're taking a shot of just 1-2 persons or maybe a holiday ornament, place the subject on one side. Think of imaginary gridlines, two horizontal and two vertical, dividing your frame in nine squares (like a tic-tac-toe game) and place your subject in one of the four intersections of these imaginary lines.

TAKE MANY PICTURES: Whether you are taking posed or candid pictures, take more than just one. In group pictures, it'll take more than one shot to get everybody without blinking, looking away, trying to say something, etc. In candid pictures this is especially important because you have to anticipate those "magic moments": the surprised face of your niece when opening a gift, the laughter after dad's joke, a spontaneous hug or kiss, etc. By taking more than one shot, you will most probably get the right expression at the right moment.

BEWARE OF SHADOWS: These are one of the greatest menaces of photography. For outdoor pictures, remember that there are certain times of the day which are good and others bad for taking pictures. The best of time of day is when it is slightly overcast, when the sun is setting or going behind a cloud. The same soft effect can be obtained when the subject is in the shade, resulting in a much more natural light and better photo. The worst time of day is at high noon, because that is generally when the sun's light is at its brightest, creating unwanted shadows. If you are taking indoor pictures, try to avoid the flash as much as possible, by pulling up drapes and blinds from the windows and placing your subject as closest as possible to the natural light source. If you have to use the flash, don't position your subjects in front of mirrors, windows or shiny walls. If you don't have a choice, position yourself at a 30 degree angle to avoid a shiny reflection in the

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