Tips And Tricks For Snapping Great Photos

By David B On Nov 8, 2013

Your photographic reputation can take a major hit due to poor photography. This article is full of ideas you will find helpful to improve your photography skills.

Truly unique pictures are often the result of trying new ideas and experimenting. A great picture should show the world a unique point of view, and exhibit unmistakable personal style. Try your best to not take stereotypical pictures; you want to be as unique as you can. Look for different angles to emphasize different aspects of your subject.

In terms of great photography tips you can use, here is one that’s very underrated. Shutter speeds can make the difference between a good and bad photo, so learn more about them. On your SLR camera there are several settings; S, A, M and P. The label “P” is the setting for program mode. This setting is fully automated and will set both the shutter speed and aperture for you. Use this setting whenever you are unsure of what it is you will be photographing.

TIP! Get closer to the subject to get a better shot. Getting closer lets you frame a subject, and prevents distracting backgrounds.

You want the background to be slightly blurred when taking photographs of people. A sharply focused background pulls attention from your subject, and that is not ideal. You want your viewer’s eye to fall on the intended subject. You can accomplish this by having your background further away from your subject.

If you plan on traveling, you should begin snapping pictures immediately when you depart. There will be many photo opportunities at your destination, but you should consider your travel time an awesome opportunity to get good shots as well. Don’t forget to take pictures of the things you see on the way or the places you visit.

Always keep your batteries charged; you have to be ready at all times to take the perfect shot. Because digital cameras drain their batteries pretty fast, it’s important that you start the day with a full charge. It is also a good idea to carry around spare batteries. This way you will never miss out on a great shot.

TIP! Make sure you know exactly what is going into each photograph. Your picture should be composed in such a way that it gives some insight into your subject.

Whether your model is a stranger or loved one, take the time to make them feel at home. Many people see photographers as a possible threat. Be polite, talk to them for a bit, then ask to take their photo. Many people need to know that photography is art, instead of an invasion of privacy.

Try to experiment with perspective, expression, and scale. Take the simplest of objects, and place it in an unusual place for an amusing photo, or play with the perspective of the picture to make the object seem much larger than it really is. Play around with different photo composition ideas to get new takes on everyday objects.

When taking group photos of couples, families or larger groups, give them advice on the best type of clothing to wear in the photoraph. They don’t need to look exactly the same, but complementary colors and shades are going to make the whole thing look much better. Perhaps advice your subjects to wear neutral colors that will blend with any surrounding. If your subjects want to wear bright colors, suggest that they also include some black pieces so their attire is not too overwhelming.

TIP! When shooting pictures on an overcast day, avoid capturing the sky in the image. Leaving too much of the gray sky in your photograph might make the whole shot look too muted and lacking in contrast.

While it may be tempting to lower the settings on your camera in order to store the most possible photos, understand that you are sacrificing image quality in return. The lowest setting should only be used if the sole purpose of your photos will be to display them on your computer screen.

To achieve some creative results, don’t feel limited to strict focus rules. If you wish to have the main focus on the subject or object without having the background overtake it, then think about using a smaller f-stop number, otherwise known as a depth of field technique. This works great for portraits since the subject is much closer. The larger your f-stop is it will give you more depth, and this simply means that your whole photograph will be clear and focused. Make sure to use this for your landscape photos.

With time and effort, you can overcome a lack of photography experience to produce memorable pictures. Ask your friends and family to judge your photos, and use this knowledge to improve. Try applying these tips to start exploring the artistic possibilities of photography.

TIP! You shouldn’t neglect the foreground as many novice photographers do. Compose the foreground so that it creates a striking frame to increase your depth of field.