Easy photography tips that will instantly improve your photos
Having expensive camera equipment doesn’t necessarily make you a better photographer. But have you ever thought of some things you can do differently to improve your skills? In this article we are bringing you few easy tips how to become a better photographer. Tips you can start doing today and immediately see better results in your photos. This is just a short preview of all the great tips we have learnt and practised over the years of creating digital content which have significantly improved our skills and photos. We wish we knew these things before!
Always have your camera with you
It doesn’t matter if you have all of your gear, or just have your phone in the pocket, make sure you have it within a reach of your hand. Just imagine how many pictures have you missed by not carrying camera with you. We remember many situations and places we regret not having it with us. We don’t even want to imagine how many great photos we have missed. So don’t do the same mistake and always have your gear with you and be ready to snap many pictures in the right moment.
Stop checking your photo on the back screen
It’s a very bad habit many photographers have developed. Sometimes we even catch ourselves doing that. You take a photo and instantly wait for it to appear on the screen while loosing an opportunity to take another one and could miss all the special moments. You can always look at your photos later. Instead better keep shooting and you can check them out once you have time. Anyway the back screen of the camera is usually not very good and you can hardly find out any details as you will see later on your desktop.
Rule of thirds
How to frame an object? Where to position it on the photo? For every image you need to look for some symmetry or lines to follow and find a way how make the object stand out of the picture. If you don’t have any clear line we recommend to use the ,,rule of thirds”. Don’t place the object (person) in the middle of the picture as every beginner photographer would do, you want to become a better photographer! Instead imagine the screen divided in nine identical squares and position the object on one of the forth crosses of vertical and horizontal lines. It sounds harder than it is, just simple turn on the grid line you have on your camera or phone and you’ll understand immediately. It’ll make the photographed object be in the main sight of the eye.
The golden hour
Shooting at the correct time of the day may also lead to improving your pictures’ overall look. It really makes a difference if you go out before sunset when the sky is covered by colourful clouds and this golden light is filling up the whole scenery instead of going to shoot at grey cloudy day or blue sunny sky.
Invest in camera gear?
It is a question of money and your purpose for photography. Of course it makes a difference if you take pictures on the phone or on a professional full-frame camera. But great and expensive gear doesn’t make you a better photographer. Actually we think it even has the opposite effect. If you have a better camera, you are more betting on the gear than your own skills. It really makes sense to start with more ,,beginner” setup and learn the basics of photography and camera settings before you spend big money on professional equipment and end up disappointed of not having great pictures like all those professional photographers.
Investing in your editing skills is much cheaper and might make such a big difference in overall look of your photos.
If you want to take your editing to the next level, you need to have a look at this professional Lightroom Preset pack.
Charge the battery
This tip will not make you a better photographer but certainly makes you more organised and always ready to take great photos. It seems very obvious, but we are sure that everyone has been already caught out before. We can admit it too. The trick is to put the battery on charger as soon as you come home. We always use the excuse that it’s not necessary now, there is still half of the battery left and so on. But not always the indicators are right, the other half of the battery might disappear much faster and also cold weather might influence the usage. It just takes few second to put it on charger and you know that it will be ready for the next shooting. The only thing to make sure it to put it back in after it’s charged. But it all goes with the following tip.
Don’t assume, check it!
Are you going on a trip or just a for a single photoshoot? Never underestimate the preparation. Did I charge the battery? Did I put it back in the camera? Am I sure I have enough space on the card? Is the lens already in the backpack? And then you go out and find out that you have forgotten something at home. It takes just few seconds to go through your camera bag to make sure you have everything. And if you do that you’ll never be unpleasantly surprised again.
Take your time and prepare
Slow down and take time to think about what is going on around you. Before just pressing the camera shutter you should have an idea what picture do you want to make. How to compose the shot? How are the light conditions? And are all the settings ready for the moment you need to photograph? You don’t want to look at your photos after and think about what you should have done differently, why have you used that shutter speed or such a high ISO! It’s already late to think.
Before we reach the place and object we want to photograph we always make quick shot to see the conditions in the camera. Is it too light? Change the ISO, or lower the exposition. Is there movement in the picture? Play with the shutter speed. Do I want blurred background? I should zoom it instead of coming closer to the object or use lower aperture. Just take the time you need to answer all of the questions and you’ll be ready to take great photos!
As an easy example try to photograph steady object, where you are not in hurry, you can take extra 10 seconds to think of a better angle, composition, light and so on. You will instantly see the difference in your photos.
Don’t try – DO IT
There is a very thin line between disappointment and success. Many times we come home excited about pictures we have taken and after uploading them they turn out to be bad. Feel the disappointment? But take it as a motivation to improve, find why it’s not as you expect it to be. We are still learning from our mistakes and want to help you avoid them. We used to say: ,,We’ll try”, but trying is not enough, you need to do more! Don’t find any excuses and you’ll become better immediately!
Practice makes perfect
It’s easy to say that with time and practice you’ll get become a better photographer. But it’s true! Every picture you make, you’ll remember and as many times you get in the same or similar situations, conditions or places you will already know what settings to use, where to stand, what angle is interesting and it will all become automatic so you will have time to focus on many other things while taking good pictures already!
Keep it simple and have the right framing
Don’t try to fit many elements into your picture, just focus on one or two and make it stand out. If you feel that your images are not popping out, get closer to the object, fill the frame or shoot through something, like a branch of a tree, leaves, fence, or anything you hold in your hands just to fill up the frame and make your pictures complete.
Inspiration of all kinds
How did you make this photo? I don’t like this style. It is very interesting perspective. Why is it not sharp enough? Every photo you see, look at on the internet or make by yourself should be an inspiration for you. We often use Instagram as inspiration. Look for differences, mistakes and interesting elements on the picture and think of how it’s done and what can you do to make your photos better. Even bad pictures can be a good inspiration.
Looking for some inspiration? Have a look at our best instagram pictures from Japan or these incredible places in Myanmar
I hope these easy but effective tips we have put together will help you immediately improve your photography skills on the way how to become a better photographer!
With Love,
Jelena and Luke
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