Photo Tip - SCUFI

In the first of many tips on photography, this post will focus on a concept I'd like to share with you called SCUFI.

SCUFI or Shoot Close Up For Impact, is a term I learned when I was taught photojournalism style photography. This skill is most effective when photographing a person (subject) or group of people. Often people will photograph a person and will either not properly place the subject in the photo or not shoot close enough (or zoom enough) to the person.

In photojournalism, the photos should be able to describe what is occurring and in terms of people, should convey the emotional reaction the person is having. The idea is to get closer to the person or to zoom in more. By doing so, you eliminate any unnecessary background (or clutter) or elements that would take away from the main subject. All that remains is the person or group, thus delivering the full impact (main idea or emotion) to the viewer.

On the left we have the two people in the photo but too much surrounding clutter that is not important to the photo. On the right, the photograph shows just the two people, showing the emphasis of the two friends and conveying to the viewer of idea of happiness.