How To Take Pictures For
The Female Masking Web Site
by Marti
The web site exists because so many people have contributed pictures for the galleries we all enjoy so much. I get emails from people asking how they can contribute and what are the requirements. I will answer those and other questions in this article, but first I want to explain some basics of taking your pictures.
I will assume most of you have no one to take your pictures. Even if you do, much of what I say will still apply. This is a digital age! If you are still using a film camera please don’t bother to mail printed pictures to me. You can scan your pictures and send me the images of course, more about image requirements later. For this article we will discuss only the more basic digital cameras. If you are using a Nikon D-80 or other high-end camera, you don’t need my advice!
Most digital cameras have a self-portrait mode or a delayed shutter release. The delay in taking the picture is normally ten seconds. To take a delayed picture requires a method of securing the camera at a distance from the subject, in other words, your need a tripod. You can find inexpensive tripods in many discount shops and of course camera shops. If you use a digital video camera that can also take still pictures, it may have a remote hand held shutter release. Please note that many digital video cameras take rather poor quality still images. This is especially true of web cams! One thing not to do, do not stand in front of a mirror holding the camera and taking a picture. This usually results in a poor result, especially when the flash goes off.
Good photos require two requirements, adequate lighting and good composition. Lets discuss lighting first. All digital cameras have a light-sensing device. It measures the light and decides what shutter speed, lenses opening (f-stop) and if a flash is needed for the correct exposure. The more sophisticated (expensive) cameras have the ability to control these functions automatically or manually. Let’s assume you have the more common point and shoot camera which does not give you control of these functions.
One of the most common faults I see with photos is there is not enough light, or there is too much! Dark pictures usually are a result of you being too far from a camera that has a weak flash. Another cause can be the camera seeing to much light behind you. Never stand near a bright light, a window with sunlight coming in, or any similar situation. The camera will sense the bright light behind you, choose a smaller lenses opening, and the resulting picture will have you dark and the window or lamp nicely exposed. The ideal situation for an indoor picture is to have the light source behind the camera and off to the side. Cameras with a strong flash will help if no additional lighting is available. If you camera has the ability to measure the amount of light using several methods, choose the “spot” mode. This will sense the light on you only and not your surroundings.
Composition is the second most common problem I see. I’ve lost track of the number of pictures sent to me with the top of your head cut off! The number one advantage of a digital camera is that you can see the results instantly. Please look at your pictures and do them over if your head is cut off. Everyone wants to see you’re your face! The opposite situation can also be annoying, that is, being too far away from the camera. I am a skilled Photoshop user. I often delete unwanted portions of a picture to not only save space, but also to make you, the subject the main object of interest. Yes, I realize that sometimes you have to get back from the camera to get all of yourself in the picture.
Another composition consideration is the background or your surroundings. We don’t want to see your dirty laundry on your bed or floor. Anything behind you that distracts from the subject (that’s you) should not be there. Some people place a large sheet of cloth behind them. That’s fine as long as it is done neatly and the color is not distracting. Stand behind the camera and look at what will be behind you in the picture. If you are a good image editor please feel free to crop your pictures or remove unwanted backgrounds. Think about how you are standing or sitting, or for that matter lying on a couch or bed. Don’t just stand against the wall like a girl in front of a firing squad. Try poses with your feet and arms in different positions. Hold something in your hands. If you are wearing your maid outfit, try holding a duster. Sitting on a stool or chair with your legs crossed or looking over your shoulder, are all good poses. Remember, girls don’t sit like guys! Try to look relaxed, lady like, sexy, demure, submissive, dominant, whatever you desire. You get the idea!
The site is adult, but it is not pornography! I’m not a prude, but Kerry and I do not want some one complaining about pornographic pictures. Yes, we have had bare breasts shown, but that is hardly porn. Please keep your panties on!
Ok, you have some nice pictures and you wish to have them on the web site. Your pictures should be no smaller than 640 x 480 pixels in size and 72 dots-per-inch (dpi). Actually I prefer larger images and 200 dpi. The larger size will result in a better quality picture when I edit the size for the web site. Disk space is a problem so all images on the site are 640 x 480 and stored as JPEG format files. Do not send these formats, GIF, PNG, TIF or BMP. GIF files are limited in colors they can display and the other formats, although very good, just make more work for me. Your files can be sent as compressed ZIP or RAR files if you wish. I can handle either one. I also need one good picture of your face to create the small icons I use on some pages.
If you are new to the web site I like to have a few words of introduction for galleries, something about you, your mask, what your are wearing, how you got started in masking, your interests and so on. Read some of the existing galleries to get ideas. If you want to show your email address I will place it on your page only if you tell me to. I sometimes try to match the background color or theme to your pictures or interests. If you have a background you prefer let me know. All emails and files should be sent to me at MartiFM@aol.com