:: 23 Tips to Make Your Photos Better
Posted by Andrew
- Take photos before and after people are ready. It is when people let their gaurd down. You might tick them off a little bit but it is better than having a fake, posed snapshots.
- The majority of photos with the subject smack-bang in the centre of the picture can be dull and boring. The rule of thirds involves dividing your viewfinder into an imaginary tic-tac-toe square. The trick is place the main subject in one of the four intersecting points.
- Just about any solid structure (walls, mounds, tables) can be used as improvised tripods to support the camera and avoid the dreaded camera shake.
- Panning or moving your camera at the same speed as your subject is a great way to shoot action and at the same time eliminate any distractions.
- Experiment with different film speeds. Changing ISO changes the contrast, grain and the minimum shutter speed of your shot.
- Get closer. There is a temptation to include everything in your photos but don’t be afraid to cut out some details. Try focusing more on the details rather than the whole. If it’s a choice between moving closer or using digital zoom, move closer.
- The most important part of any portrait is the subject’s eyes. By positioning catchlights (reflections of light) in your model’s eyes it can improve your shot tenfold.
- Know where the sun is relative to your subject. If you shoot into the sun your subject will likely be in shadow; shoot with the sun facing your subject and you will having them squinting back at you. Look for a place with less harsh lighting or use fill flash.
- Always hold the camera with both hands. It helps to steady the camera.
- For spur of the moment photos shoot first, then adjust your settings for the second shot. Too many great shots have been lost because the photographer spent too long finding the perfect settings.
- If it’s bright over-expose; if it’s dark under-expose.
- Take photographs of the same thing at intervals to gauge your progress.
- Keep you horizons horizontal or else it will give the impression that everything is falling off the print.
- Shoot from down on the ground and from up on a height. A fresh perspective can bring life into your pictures.
- Learn to bounce the flash for more natural looking indoor shots. This works wonderful for me.
- Use a short depth of field to eliminate distracting backgrounds. This can be achieved by using a telephoto lens, using a wide aperature or getting as close as possible to your subject.
- Keep a log of information such as shutter speed, f-stop, weather, etc. It can be useful when you are trying to figure out what you did right and wrong in your photos.
- Don’t shoot portraits from down below. It will make the chin and nose more prominent.
- When it comes to composition simplicity is the key.
- Use multiple pre-flashes to eliminate red eye, although it ruins the spontaneity.
- Experiment with your camera’s manual mode while shooting landscapes or still life as this gives you plenty of time to get to know your camera.
- Make sure that your fingers and camera strap aren’t obstructing the view finder.
- Break the rules. Photography rules are better viewed as guidelines. While the rule of thirds holds true in many situations, you will undoubtedly come across a situation that calls for you to centre you subject.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:11 am
[…] 23 Tips to make your photos better… It reminded me of the rule of thirds, and gave me some ideas for under and over exposing… a good list that’s not too complicated and I find if I can take one or two things away from posts like this, then it’s all good! […]
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
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