If you?re interested in improving your photos or looking for modeling ideas, this information will be of interest. If you?re already a skilled photographer, you might want to skip on to more interesting posts.

There are a million pix on this site, figuratively at least, and only a very small percentage of them are truly good photos. I don?t mean image quality, but the overall photograph or the subject of the photo is composed badly and is uninteresting or, rather, uninterested.

I concentrate on women subjects as they are what I have done for years. As a professional fashion, figure, and art photographer, I have worked with hundreds of women to make them look the best they can be and literally jump off the page, or perhaps make their viewers want to jump into the page. With that in mind, the same can be said for and done with men so this information can be applied to either subject. So, in an effort to help those interested in improving their photography, here?s a mini-camp version of Photography 101.

CAMERA TYPES: There are essentially three types of camera platforms used to get digital pix for uploading. There are lo resolution (LoRes) cell phone cameras, (Lo/HiRes) point-and-shoot pocket cameras, and (HiRes) digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras. With the exception of image quality, and for the rest of this discussion, CAMERA TYPE DOESN?T MATTER. In reality, the higher the resolution (megapixel) camera you have, the better the output quality as you enlarge your pictures but most cameras today have fairly good image quality to begin with. If possible, DO NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONE CAMERA to take pictures. They have very low resolution and focusing and flash usage is poor. USE A GOOD MID-COST POCKET CAMERA or SLR with a good lens, integrated flash, and a self-timer. That?s all you need.

IMAGE BALANCE: In the world of photography, the word balance refers to how you place your subject within the limits of a photograph. The RULE OF THREES is the cornerstone of every photograph. Imagine your viewfinder divided into thirds both vertically and horizontally resulting in a screen that looks like a tic-tac-toe board. Each ?Third? of the screen in either direction should be used to compose a balanced photograph. Using the different areas that make up 1/3rd, 2/3rds, or 3/3rds? in the vertical or horizontal planes will create IMAGE DRAMA and DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT. And remember, a photo that just centers the image is typically more boring than one offset using a more dramatic rule of thirds.

SUBJECT SELECTION: SYC/D in unto itself poses the idea of taking a picture of your genitals only. But that doesn?t mean the photograph needs to be an extreme close up of various body parts. The best photographs pull back to a point where the body part is shown in contrast to both the background and the subject?s other body parts. This gives both scale and proportion to the image and provides depth to the image.

PRIVACY MASKS: The most interesting photographs are those that include the greatest part of the model. For those who need privacy and don?t want to show their face, LOOK AWAY FROM THE CAMERA or USE A PROP such as a broad brimmed hat to hide your face. Avoid using blurs or blackouts to mask your features. If you must, USE AN OPAQUE MASk that provides an outline while not completely obscuring the facial geometry.

ATTITUDE AND DEMEANOR: Photographs where those in the photograph look disinterested and ambiguous to having their photo taken are the worst. It gives the appearance that the subject is being forced into modeling or is too stoned to have any emotion. As a model, LOOK LIKE YOUR HAVING FUN, YOUR EXCITED, AND YOUR ENJOYING MODELING.

Subjects can BE INTERESTIING, SENSUAL, AND SEXUAL WITHOUT BEING CRUDE. If you taking hard core photos of sexual acts it?s a hard line to find but it can be done. Use your judgment here and keep in mind what your trying to accomplish with the photograph. Do you want the image to be hard core pornographic in substance or more artistic. Remember that a subject who?s totally natural and at peace with the action is going to be more believable than otherwise.

TRI-POD: ALWAYS USE A TRIPOD for self portraits. Don?t hold the camera at arm?s length and shoot randomly. Place the camera where you?re going to get a good shot, set the self-timer, and get into the shot. You?ll look more natural and the image will be better. Doing this you can preview the image area and apply the rule of 3s to determine where you?ll look best in the photo.

SELF-TIMERS & REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASES: Most cameras today have a SELF-TIMER that permits the photographer to release the shutter on a 15 second delay and move into the picture. This works well in most cases and should be used as much as possible for self portraits. An even better choice on some camera models is a REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE. You can set up the camera then press the button whenever you want without returning to the camera. This way you can take multiple photos with various pose adjustments easily and quickly.

FLASH USE: AVOID USING A FLAH WHENEVER POSSIBLE. Most cameras have a built-in flash that?s linked to the camera?s electronics and can to some extent control flash intensity. However, the flash from a single strobe is flat and typically washes out the subject. If you can turn off the flash feature, NATURAL LIGHTING PRODUCES WARMER IMAGES WITH MORE DEPTH. Shadow?s can be a photographer?s best friend creating drama in an otherwise bland setting.

While there are thousands of other techniques and variations on equipment and tactics to create good photographs, this is a fair sampling of what I have observed that will improve many of the images posted on this site. I hope it helps and gives you seeds to cultivate new and interesting photographic images.