Well, you’ve decided to enter into photography. Pretty cool, right? Well, except for the fact that there is so much information that you have no clue where to start. Don’t worry, photography tips are here! Listed in this article are some tips that will help you get started and organized so that you can become a successful photographer.
Consider purchasing a dSLR in order to take professional style photos. This camera is a single-lens reflex digital camera and shows the subject as the photograph is being shot. Full frame DSLR cameras will provide the largest image sensor, enabling you to capture extremely detailed photographs.
A good photography tip is to realize that you’re not always in control. Trying to be in control of everything can be extremely frustrating, especially when there are variables involved that are simply out of your control. Try to just relax and enjoy the act of taking photographs.
A great photography tip you should keep in mind is to never compare yourself to someone else. If you’re constantly comparing your work to someone else’s, you’re selling your own work short. You must learn to value and appreciate your own work, and not worry too much about everyone else.
Try to make your model feel comfortable, particularly if you just met them. Many people tend to see someone taking photos as a threat. You can ease their reluctance by engaging them in a friendly conversation and asking permission to photograph them. Help people see photography as an art form, not as a way to invade their privacy.
When composing a shot, keep in mind the artistic axiom “less is more.” A scattered jumble without a focal point doesn’t add to a picture. Simplicity is an art in itself, so apply this to your photographs.
Most pictures are taken with the camera at or near the subject’s eye level. Common sense says this is good, but get the “WOW” factor by changing the angle from which you shoot. Try shooting down at the subject from higher up or get close to the ground and shoot up.
Watch for natural light. If you’re taking photos outdoors, early morning and late afternoon are ideal times to take them because that’s when the almighty sun is lowest in the sky. When the sun sits high in the sky, harsh shadows or squinting subjects can become an issue. Utilize sunlight to the best of your ability by setting up your subject in a way that the sunlight hits them from the side.
Even though people think white is great to wear during a photograph, it is generally a bad decision. Since many cameras are automatically set to focus, the camera takes all the colors from the photograph into account. The contrasting background will make the white clothes stand out instead of looking washed out.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to choosing settings on your camera is to choose the higher quality settings that take up more space on your memory card. The lower settings will not allow for quality printing, especially if you want to enlarge them. When shooting at a high resolution, you can always lower it later for sending via email or displaying online.
Improve your photography by paying attention to the light. Lighting should usually be behind the photographer rather than the subject. A subject being backlit will create a silhouette. Be careful when the light is behind the photographer though, if it is too bright it might cause the subject to squint.
Make sure your photos tell a story by leading the viewer’s eyes around the frame. Do not simply snap a photo of a scene and expect others to see in it what you did. Try to frame the picture in a way that cuts out clutter and focuses on your subject while still giving a sense of the surroundings for context.
You should learn to utilize your camera’s ISO setting or you might not have pictures of the highest quality. Keep in mind that high ISO settings mean you will be able to see more on your photo and print a photo with more grain. Shots don’t look good with the grain unless that’s the look you are going for.
When you find a brand that you like, that gives you great results, stick with it. You need a quality brand, if photography is going to be a hobby that you pursue for a lifetime. Most professionals use brands, such as Nikon or Canon, but there are several other camera brands that will allow you to take a quality picture.
Get views of different angles of the subject or scene that you are shooting. Many amateurs will not take the time to move around the subject to find the best angle, if you do, you’ll find there are many different photos to be taken of one subject.
Do not trust the appearance of the photo on your camera’s LCD screen. Any picture that you take and look at on a two or three inch screen is going to look sharp. If you are taking a shot that you do not want to take the chance of messing up, zoom in and look closely at every pixel to make sure that it is as you want it to be.
If you are just beginning to hone your photography skills, remember practice makes perfect. Taking a picture itself is quite simple, but photography is quite an art form. To learn how to get great pictures it takes practice, patience and persistence. Taking your camera everywhere and shoot in every situation you can, before long you will see a noticeable improvement in your photography skills.
Now, don’t you feel better after reading all those tips? That was a lot of information to think and read through, but at least now you know what to do and where to begin with your photography. Plus, you can always refer back to the above list of tips, if you forget.
