If you’re among the 40% of Americans taking a vacation, you’re probably hoping to capture some family moments for posterity. But if you’re not a natural with a camera, it’s easy to think that every image will be a throwaway. Fortunately, if you follow the right photography tips, you can grow your skills so you wind up with album-worthy photos.
Curious to learn more? Read on to learn about the latest photography tips you should start using now!
Hold the Camera Steady
The best photography is crisp and confident. But if you’re constantly shaking your camera or moving before you’ve clicked the camera, you’ll end up with blurry results. And if you’re creating product images for a website, you’ll want every detail to shine through.
Use a tripod if you struggle to keep your camera steady. If you’re taking digital pictures, take advantage of the fact that you can take lots of shots, too. It’s always better to take more pictures than you think are necessary!
Turn to the Rule of Thirds
When it comes to professional photography techniques, the rule of thirds is one to live by. The idea is that you divide the image area into thirds both horizontally and vertically. At the points where those lines overlap, you’ll want to place a more important part of the composition.
For instance, you could place a tree or item on a table at one of the overlapping points. In doing so, you’ll anchor the composition and ensure that you’ve created a focal point.
Focus on Depth
Do you love landscape photography? The best photographs of scenery take a viewer into a space.
As a photographer, it’s wise to make sure that your photos have a foreground, middle ground, and background. This creates a sense of diminishing perspective that will demonstrate perspective. Create a scene with large boulders in the foreground and tiny trees in the background, for instance.
Another way to create depth is by limiting how much visual clutter you allow in your frame. In other words, an image with a textured or high-contrast background can flatten the appearance of the picture. You may want to use a background remover to edit the space behind your subject if your goal is to create depth.
Pay Attention to Lighting
While different types of photography will call for different lighting effects, it’s easy to spot bad lighting. If a light source is behind someone, the image will be backlit. And the person will appear dark and blurry.
And if you take photographs outside at midday, you’ll wash out your subject. Try to use early morning or evening light for softer and better effects. And consider how shadows from strong light sources can add drama to your images.
Follow These Photography Tips
When you let the right photography tips guide your approach to the medium, you’ll end up with better pictures. Aim to create pleasing compositions that create depth and use a focal point. And pay attention to where your light source is — and how strong it is.
For more ideas from the photography industry, check back soon for new articles!