Ten ways to take better photographs with the camera you already own.
Ten ways to take better pictures
with the camera you already own!
1. See beauty. There is so much that can go unnoticed in your everyday life that is worthy of your attention and would make a great photograph. It’s fun to practice your photo skills without the pressure of a moving subject (people, pets, etc) Flowers, fruit, a cup full of old paintbrushes, a stack of books… so many things make great subjects for still life photographs.
2. Look for light first.
Sometimes we get too caught up with the background of our pictures, and we don’t pay enough attention to the light that exists where we are shooting. Remember that the background should be just that…background. The best thing you can do is place your subject in beautiful light.
-Direction of light
-Back lighting
3. Turn off your flash!
Flash kills the mood of any scene. It makes everything flat, one dimensional and boring. I only use a flash when absolutely necessary, such as at night or in a dark room. Natural light enhances people, surroundings, objects, etc. It is part of the story. Whenever possible, leave it alone.
If you have to use a flash, dial down the power if your camera allows you to. Turning your flash down to a -1 or -2 will make a huge difference.
4. Careful composition.
-Rule of thirds
-Quadrants
-Leading lines
-Framing with foreground
5. Simplify.
If it doesn’t add to the photograph, get rid of it. Look at your background.
Are there bright spots? Are there unsightly things? If you positioned yourself higher or lower, could these things be eliminated?
6. Un-pose.
Place your subject in good light and then let them be themselves. Give less direction. If you are posing a person, say things like, “Sit there and look at me.” See how they naturally position themselves and then make minor adjustments. But, instead of telling them exactly how to position their arm, say, “Do something else with your arm” Stiff subjects don’t give good expressions.
Take candids! If you’re trying to capture your kids playing nicely together, then be a fly on the wall and shoot pictures. Don’t stop the moment and ask everyone to say cheese.
7. Change your perspective.
Lots of annoying background elements can be avoided simply by getting higher, or squatting down lower. Don’t always use your vantage point, especially when photographing kids. Get down on their level. Walk around your subject and see if another angle would improve the shot. Extreme angles can freshen up an otherwise boring image. Try standing directly overhead or even laying down on the ground!
8. Be flexible.
Don’t have an idea so stuck in your head that you blind yourself from opportunities that might be better. This is true especially with taking pictures of kids. Go with the flow, and you’ll get great pictures without feeling frazzled and making your subjects miserable.
9. Shoot more pictures!
Even if it’s with your cell phone. I carry a point and shoot camera in my purse at all times so I’m always prepared when I see an awesome sunset, a herd of deer in my driveway, or when my kids do something cute.
10. Give yourself assignments.
As with anything, practice makes perfect. Photography is FUN! I love to decorate my home with pictures I’ve taken on vacation or of my family looking natural, the way I see them everyday.
Try shooting for just 15 minutes and only using the rule of thirds, or any compositional rule. Or, try shooting with a theme, such as Red. Go out and photograph things that are or embody ‘red’. There are websites that have daily challenges that will give you themes to photograph. Filling your mind with ideas and imagery is sure to improve the look of your own photographs.
