Donald Peters lists the essential and nice-to-have gear for photographers.

Camera Setting Charts Need to know what all those little buttons on your camera do? Well here are some charts for each brand that will help guide you.  They are in PDF format so you can print them, bring them to class, or just have them for your own reference.   CAMERA SETTINGS CHARTS (must have ADOBE FREE ACROBAT READER): > Download PANASONIC Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download SONY Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download SAMSUNG Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download PENTAX Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download OLYMPUS Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download NIKON Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download KODAK Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download HP Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download GE Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download FUJIFILM Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download CASIO Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format) > Download CANON Camera Settings Chart (.pdf format)

Draping a white blanket over a sofa, makes a simple and clean backdrop symbolizing the purity of a newborn baby.

Using a wide open aperture (f/2.8 – f4), and making sure the background is far enough away from your subject, you can create a shallow depth of field, so the background is soft and not distracting

You want to be ready to capture the moment, so think about your framing and exposure settings ahead of time. Be sure to focus on the eyes and don’t be afraid to come in close. Patience will be rewarded with priceless expressions.

Backlighting with fill light is a great way to add a dramatic edge lighting and keep your subjects from squinting into the sun.

Touching moments between children and adults are sometimes better when they are not aware of being photographed.

Family pets can often generate big smiles. Changing the image to black and white instills a timeless quality.

Coming down to shoot at eye level to kid size creates a picture of their world. The pleasing color and symmetry enhance the quintessential moment of sportsmanship between the kids’ team, which tells as powerful a story as the homerun hit.

Kida are always in action. Using a panning technique can magnify the feeling of motion.