Camera Techniques for Magazine Photography

A magazine is a much different canvas for your work than a typical print. Most magazines are designed for vertical pictures. Otherwise, you'd have to really crop a picture down.

Inside a magazine, horizontals will be found, but many of photos are verticals because they allow for better text wrapping and layout design. And 9 times out of 10, the cover shot will be a vertical (unless the magazine has a unique layout or they crop down a horizontal).

• We are always drawn towards the eyes in a photograph, since eyes are a natural focal point that we connect with. When taking portrait photographs at any aperture, make sure you nail the focus on the eyes. As long as the eyes are in focus, both you and your subject are more likely to consider the picture to be properly shot.

• Getting proper exposure in photography consists of balancing three things: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. You can start off by shooting in automatic or priority mode, but to get full control and shoot with manual camera controls you’ll have to understand the relationship between these three things that each directly affect the exposure and quality of your image.

1. ISO – This indicates how sensitive the sensor or film is to light. For darker scenarios, you’ll need to use higher or more sensitive ISO settings to capture light, such as 800 or 1600 ISO. Higher settings generally introduce more grain or noise into the image.

2. Aperture – This refers to the size of the opening in the lens diaphragm. Smaller numbers mean a larger opening and more shallow depth of field in your images. Larger numbers let through less light, but make more of your image look sharp.

3. Shutter speed – This is the amount of time your camera’s shutter is open and the amount of time your sensor or film is exposed to light. Faster speeds can “stop” motion, while slower speeds let in more light and can capture blur and motion.

• Aim for an aperture size around f/2.8 to f/5.6 to make the background behind your subject more blurred out. This will help remove distracting backgrounds and make your subject stand out.

• Camera shake can render a photo unusable. Increasing your ISO and opening up your aperture allows for quicker shutter speeds, reducing the chance of blurry images. However, this is not always an option if you’re trying to maintain other specific qualities of your image. Start by doing what you can to reduce camera movement, which begins with learning how to properly hold a camera. Use one hand to support the camera body and use the other to support the lens. Pull your elbows in against your body so they have something stable to rest on. Then hold your breath right before pressing the shutter release. You can further stabilize your body if there’s a wall, tree, other solid object, or even the floor to rest on. Some scenarios with longer exposures will require the use of a tripod.

Professionally produced magazines use the CMYK color process, and unless your monitor is toned for CMYK, it can be a pain to ensure the perfect tone. Make sure you know the standards and practices for the kind of magazine you are dealing with, so it doesn't become an editing disaster.