If you’re just starting out as a photographer, this article has some valuable tips that will help you to start taking better photos right away. Many professional photographers start shooting photos as a hobby.
Don’t try to pose your subjects for every picture. Candid, action shots are often times some of the best. You will capture a person in their natural setting, in their natural mood, and the picture will look more “real” because of it. Take lots of candid pictures and you’re sure to get a few that are great.
Compose your photograph carefully. Sometimes you might have to actually move things around to get the proper contrast or light you want. If you are taking pictures of objects, turn them to get the proper angle. As you progress, you will learn how to make a scene look natural when you compose it.
A dSLR is an essential tool if you seek to take more professional photographs or to seriously embrace photography itself. This type of digital camera will give you the most accurate view of your subject as you snap the picture. Ideally you would get a full framed DSLR camera that gives you the largest image sensor with the highest detailed photographs.
Understand and anticipate the impact that wind will have on the photos that you take. For example, if you are planning on shooting flowers, avoid days where the wind is very active. When flowers and plants are stable, you will have the best chance to get the highest quality and resolution in your picture. In situations where you don’t have a choice, such as weddings, have a contingency plan. Are there sheltered areas where the wind will have less impact?
On your smart phone (as long as it has a camera), keep a special inspiration album within your photos. Every day you may stumble upon some amazing, inspirational idea, moment or place. Snap photos of these locales and moments, and store them in this inspiration album. Next time you are looking to try something new with your photography, look back to your inspiration folder for some great brainstorming ideas!
Do your best to make your models feel at ease, especially if you do not know them. You may unknowingly intimidate your subject, potentially affecting the outcome of your photographs. Make sure to be congenial, talk to them and ask if it is okay to take the pictures. Many people need to know that photography is art, instead of an invasion of privacy.
Tripods are great pieces of photography equipment, but not everyone has one or can afford one for their shots. So, what can you do in the meantime to make sure that you have steady, sharp shots of your subject? Try leaning against something solid so that you can steady your hands and the camera.
Play with the idea of depth of field and aperture. Most photograph place their object in the center of their composition and have their background look blurry. Reverse this convention and blur your object to focus on your background. You can also play with the placement of your object in the picture.
When taking group shots, pay attention to the height and build of each person in the photograph. Arrange the subjects so the taller ones are in the back row, with the tallest one in the center. If tall and short subjects must be placed together for some reason, consider having some people sitting and others standing.
Well, hopefully this collection of tips was enough to give you a great start on what to do and what to expect when it comes to taking better photos. With this carefully constructed set of tips, you should have all the tools you need to perfect your skills in photography and take truly enviable photos.
