How to Photograph your MC in 6 easy Steps

**YvonnePhoto** · 12th March 2012, 08:40 PM

I am guessing you mean the cutie in your avatar? Always tough when its a dark face against a white chest and medium coloured body. Unless you know how to set your camera up manually [if it can be] the main problem you will have is that your camera sets an exposure time for the 'average' light in the scene... so with the white chest, body markings, and maybe some background, it is 'under-exposing' her pretty but dark face. Some of the recent model cameras with face recognition software may be better in this situation IF you can get her to hold still for long enough of course. However, a possibly more practical solution would be twofold. Even the smallest cheapest cameras [including many phones] usually have a macro setting [normally indicated on the mode dial by a little flower icon], try using this and then getting in close and totally filling the viewfinder/lcd screen with her face, so that the 'average' the camera has to work with is mainly dark. [rather like the grey tabby pic in your sig]
For something more artistic, see if you can persuade her to sit on a windowsill, so you get lots of natural light on her face - this will also help to get some 'catchlights' in her eyes, which really makes them alive. Better still, get someone outside the window waving a toy of doing something to make her look out and away from camera slightly, you can get some lovely, perky, intelligent looking expressions, and hopefully the window light will put enough detail into her face.

Oh and dont worry, even with the best equipment, such a stark contrast is difficult, you normally have to compromise a little and pull it back in editing afterwards. If you have any really nice pics that you like, but her face looks a bit dark, I'd be happy to have a quick look and see if they can be improved a little if you want, just drop me a message.

**Helen & John** · 12th March 2012, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by YvonnePhoto

For something more artistic, see if you can persuade her to sit on a windowsill, so you get lots of natural light on her face - this will also help to get some 'catchlights' in her eyes, which really makes them alive. Better still, get someone outside the window waving a toy of doing something to make her look out and away from camera slightly, you can get some lovely, perky, intelligent looking expressions, and hopefully the window light will put enough detail into her face.

May I add a warning to this bit.................ensure the neighbours don't see the 'assistant' outside the window

**Bethy_boo** · 12th March 2012, 10:11 PM

Wow that's lots of very helpful suggestions. I'll have a practice over the next week or so. The best pics I ever got of her were when she was in the bath! Think being surrounded by the white background was helpful.

Thanks!!

**Bethy_boo** · 12th March 2012, 10:23 PM

**YvonnePhoto** · 12th March 2012, 10:34 PM

awww, she is an absolute baba, good luck getting more of them!

H&J - Yes, that is true... well, unless the assistant has been particularly 'naughty'

**YvonnePhoto** · 23rd March 2012, 01:10 AM

Rather than starting a new thread, thought it better to add this here. I was looking through some pics I took several weeks ago to send to a friend and found this one. Don't know why I missed it first time, I love it now, looking at it again. Anyway, Ella in yet another place she isn't meant to be but we let her get away with, especially if I have the flash out.

ella on the table by Yvonne White - WhiteGoldImages, on Flickr

**LilyC** · 23rd March 2012, 02:15 AM

So beautiful!

**YvonnePhoto** · 23rd March 2012, 11:51 AM

thanks Lily! She is looking distinctly scruffy and less beautiful at the moment, but thanks to the information on this forum, pretty confident she will bloom again soon

**Audrey_D** · 23rd March 2012, 03:04 PM

Being a photographer this made me giggle

Awesome pics, and a gorgeous cat x

**YvonnePhoto** · 23rd March 2012, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Audrey_D

Being a photographer this made me giggle

Awesome pics, and a gorgeous cat x

Thanks Audrey and good to see another photographer too!

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