(Continued from page 2)

By Karin Beuerlein

2. Lighting

Time your shots wisely. "Early morning or late afternoon, just before sunup or sundown, is the ideal time to capture outdoor images," says Hawkins. "Photographers refer to it as 'sweet light.'" Midday shots, on the other hand, create harsh shadows; make sure your subjects are not between you and the sun. A couple tips for shooting outside:

• Take advantage of cloudy days. "In overcast conditions," says Hawkins, "the light is soft and indirect and colors in the scene appear rich and saturated."


• Use your flash outdoors to reduce shadows. "It puts a sparkle in your subject's eyes," says Hawkins.