5 Tips for Better Photography

I have been passionate about photography for a long time now and one of the things I love the most is helping others to improve!

Today I am sharing my TOP 5 PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOS!

1. LIGHT >> It really is all about the light! The quality and direction of your light source will have a dramatic effect on your images. Soft, diffused light is typically the best way to go, especially if you are a beginner. You'll want to choose this kind of light because it is much more flattering for your subject than harsh light that is hitting your subject directly. When inside find the room with the most amount of indirect light and start there. When outside, look for open shade rather than placing your subject right underneath the direct sun.

2. FOCUS >> It's such a bummer when you have an otherwise fabulous photo that is out of focus or blurry. This is one of the most common mistakes that beginners make but it's also an easy fix. Read up in your camera manual about focus and the different settings your camera has so you know how to change them. You will always want to be on Auto focus so that you don't have to adjust the focus ring yourself with each and every click. I also prefer to use the one spot focus setting so that I can zone right in on the exact focus point that I want in my image. This is especially helpful when you are using lower apertures in order to get a blurry background. Then I always put that focus point right on the subject's eye or head. 

3. EXPOSURE >> If you ever wonder how to get a nice crisp image, exposure is key! Of course your focus has to be spot on as well, but exposure plays a big role too! There is a sweet spot when it comes to exposure and you don't want your images to be underexposed or overexposed because then you will lose that clarity. Shooting in manual mode and knowing how to use your camera to its full capability is the only sure fire way to get correct exposures every time. When you shoot in Automatic mode or even one of the priority modes, you are letting the camera be in control and then the exposure is out of your hands. 

4. COMPOSITION >> As beginning photographers we typically fall into the mode of just pointing the camera at our subject and taking the shot. However, a trained eye will take some time to think about the shot and set it up, using composition to their advantage. Learning about composition and infusing those elements into your photography is a quick and easy way to take your images to the next level! My favorite rule of composition (and one that many beginners surprisingly don't use) is the rule of thirds. Simply put, this rule instructs that you will want to place your subject off center instead of putting their head or eyes right in the middle of the frame.

5. CREATIVITY >> You can and should push yourself to kick your photos up a notch by being creative with your photography! This is where you can try new things out and let your own unique voice and style shine! Not only can you use your imagination here but you can also check out the web and pinterest for a whole world of fun ideas! You can be creative with your composition, the clothing, props, location, lighting, editing and your settings! 

For LOTS more of my photography tips and tricks including everything you need to know to learn HOW TO SHOOT IN MANUAL MODE, check out my Photography 101 Online Workshop. You will learn so much more about photo basics and how to take better photos in just 6 weeks!

If you are a little more seasoned in photography and looking to take your photographs to the next level, you may be interested in my Advanced Photography Online Workshop in which I teach about advanced lighting, how to edit your photographs and so much more!

Happy Monday!

xoxoxoxo