Whether you have the hottest looking DSLR (Mirrorless camera if you are into that) or just the phone in your pocket, here are 9 universal tips to improve your photography skills.
1. Composition
When someone says, “Hey, that photo has some nice composition!” what they mean is that the place of relative objects and elements of the frame looks good. Fundamental elements in a picture include lines, color, space, shape/form, value, and texture. Look for subjects that include interesting combinations of these elements and combine them to create interesting pictures.
2. The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is the gold standard of photography. While shooting in landscape on your camera or phone try to center your subject at a point that intersects where the thirds line meets. These are some of the strongest points of the frame from a “visually appealing” perspective.
3. ISO
ISO represents how sensitive your camera’s sensor is. A high ISO can help a picture be more exposed properly if lighting is low, however, there is a catch. ISO also increase grain which decreases the overall quality of the image. ISO is to photography as gain is to cinematography so always aim to keep both as low as possible.
4. Lighting
Adding a good source of light can turn a mediocre looking picture into a great one. If taking portraits, one good tip is to avoid harsh lighting. “Harsh” light can be found from the sun on a cloudless day at 1:00 pm. There is nothing filtering the light and it creates harsh shadows and allows glare and shine to occur on your subject. Two examples of great lighting are from a cloudy day and by manipulating light with reflectors and diffusers.
5. Control of Aperture and Shutter Speed
While some phones allow the manipulation of shutter speed and aperture size, nothing comes close to the range of possibilities a proper camera can do. Shutter speed affects whether or not your subject looks completely frozen or blurred with motion. Aperture size affects the focal length and how much light enters into the sensor. Full control of these two functions can give a wide range of possibilities.
6. Find Good Photo Spots
A good photo spot could theoretically be in any location but some locations cater to specific types of shots better than others. One of my favorite ways to find good locations is to simply explore. Take a walk around town. Go for a drive. Get lost (thankfully we have GPS so get lost but don't lose cell service if possible).
7. Build Trust with Your Subject
Some people love having their photo taken but others aren’t so giddy for pictures of them. Having your photo taken can be nerve wracking experience and it's important as the photographer to provide a space where your subject can be their true self which will significantly improve your shot.
8. Break Convention
Experiment by breaking some of the “rules” I mentioned above. Experimentation and trying new things can reveal insights about why people follow conventional methods and techniques. Photography is an art so don’t be afraid to try shooting something in a new way.
9. Practice!
Practice, practice practice. Take pictures wherever you go! The more pictures you take, the more you will figure out your style.
