Taking Spontaneous Pictures

	The best photos are usually the ones you don’t plan for. Be ready, and you can get some amazing shots.
	Camera up Point your camera where action is likely to happen. Keep your viewfinder near your eye and your finger over the shutter button so you’ll be ready for the moment.
	Take lots of pictures The pros know how hard it is to capture great action. That’s why they take hundreds of shots to get one perfect photo. Use your camera’s burst mode to get a series of pictures within seconds of each other.
	Get close Fill the camera’s viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera’s closest focusing distance.
	Be invisible Try to fit into the environment, so that your subjects don’t get self-conscious. Try shooting some images with your camera at waist level to avoid drawing attention to it.

How to Take Pictures of a Group

	Sometimes, it takes a little more than getting everyone to smile at the same time to get a great group photo.
	Use different levels The eye likes variation, so get some people sitting, some kneeling, some standing. Use props like a staircase to stagger height.
	Look down Change the view by standing on a chair, ladder, or balcony to shoot down at the group for a more interesting perspective.
	Give them something to do Depending on the occasion, have them jump at the same time, or throw a ball up and have them watch it.

Photographing in a Crowd

	Whether you’re on a crowded street, or trying to capture your daughter’s first performance in a packed auditorium your candid photos can be emotionally rich with a few tricks and some practice.
	Choose your spot Make sure you have a clean path to your subject, and look for an interesting background to shoot against.
	Blend in You want to be as invisible as possible when you’re taking photos in a crowd, which means being aware of your surroundings. If it’s an event, everyone’s probably trying to see the same thing, so be considerate of other people’s views and move locations if you’re blocking them.
	Move against the crowd For street photography, you want to be facing the crowd, so that they are looking back at you.
	Focus on an element of the scene Go in tight and fill the frame to focus on a face or a piece of the crowd for a dramatic shot.