Photography Tips and Tricks Taking Photos like a Pro

Do you want to take photos like a pro?  Have you ever been so excited to take a photograph only to find that it really didn’t turn out like you had imagined?  How do photographers get those beautiful photos that just draw you in?  I am going to share a few easy tips that can make all the difference in the world. Here are some simple tips from 12 years of professional experience. These are just a few ideas that can improve your photos dramatically. Remember, practice is the key.  The more you practice, the better your photos will be.  Good luck and HAVE FUN!

GET OUT OF

AUTOMATIC MODE!

If you are using a DSLR, at least move to Aperture mode.  If you don’t know how to do that, get onto YouTube, you can learn a ton of techniques on YouTube.  When you move out of Auto, you begin to have control over your camera and your creative self can start shining through.

LIGHTING

Golden Hour

Golden hour is a magical time for light.  It is generally the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset.  During golden hour, the sun is low in the sky and produces soft light that is so much more flattering than the harsh light on the day.

Backlighting

Backlighting adds drama to you photos.  Placing the subject with the light behind them creates a beautiful rim of light around your subject.  It becomes a little tricky to make sure the subject has enough light but once you get the hang of it, you will fall in love with backlighting.

Harsh Lighting

Midday can add harsh light and harsh shadows.  Look for shade that you can put your subject in.  Watch the ground for clues as to where the shadows are.  If the ground is mottled with sun and shade, remember, that same lighting will be on the face of your subject. Also, make sure your subject is looking toward a light source so that you get that catch light in her eyes!

COMPOSITION – The way you compose a photo can tell a story. Composing a photo correctly helps to capture the attention of those viewing it and makes it stand out as extraordinary!  Here are some tips to help you compose that perfect photo that you will totally love!

Rule of Thirds

One of the first rules of composition is the rule of thirds. Imagine your photo being divided into 9 equal parts by two equally spaced vertical lines and two equally spaced horizontal lines. The important elements should be placed along these lines.  It’s pretty easy! Don’t only put your subjects in the middle.

Perspective

Change your perspective.  Get down low, Shoot up, Get in close, Fill your frame, Stand above and shoot down.  Changing your perspective can change the way a photo looks and can tell a great story.

Negative Space

Negative space is the area between and around objects in a photo. Use it to see shapes and sizes more effectively, and produce better-composed images. When a design doesn’t have enough negative space, the design, even though it may be simple, will look crowded and complicated

Leading Lines

Leading lines are lines within an image that leads the eye to another point in the image, or occasionally out of the image. Anything with a definite line can be a leading line. Fences, bridges, even a shoreline or river can lead the eye.

Framing

Framing is simply using other objects in your photograph to frame the main subject. This is probably one of the easier composition techniques in photography. Framing brings more depth to the picture and a better focus on what the main subject is.