Tips for Improving Your Photos

Macro

• Focus on the most important part of your subject matter
• Try to create an abstract composition
• The more light you have, the better
• Fill your frame
• Try a unique angle
• Use available materials for background (if they’re out-of-focus, all you will see is colour, anyway)
• Try a shallow depth of field
• If you don’t have a macro lens or extension tubes, get as close as possible, or use a zoom lens

Landscape

• The best light is in the early morning and early evening
• Every detail counts
• Create depth by using a foreground detail
• Choose a point of interest, such as a tree or a silhouette
• Shoot in “bad” weather (just be sure to protect your gear!)
• Pay attention to the sky
• Use a wide angle lens
• Make sure the horizon is straight (unless you are deliberately skewing it)

Night

• Be still; use a tripod or stable surface
• Depth of field is especially important here
• Bring a flashlight or use select lighting
• Try to capture motion in low-light situations
• Scenes with some light (streetlights, sunsets…) will be easier to capture
• Use a wide aperture setting

Still Life

• Simplicity is key
• Plan carefully
• Tell a story or convey a mood
• Pay attention to every detail
• Control your lighting
• Use everyday objects from around the house or find them in yard sales
• Photograph items that have meaning to you
• Combine unexpected items
• Experiment with different compositions
• Try time-lapse photos

Nature

• Know your subject and its habits
• Hide behind something
• Use a long lens
• Pay attention to the light
• Get down to eye level and focus on the eyes
• Isolate by zooming or include the subject’s natural environment
• Leave things as you found them
• Practice on your pets

Portraiture

• Focus on the eyes
• Try a unique angle
• Use candid shots in a creative way
• Lighting is crucial; notice where the shadows fall, especially on faces
• Unless it is intentional, be careful not to crop part of a person’s head off
• Pay attention to what will appear at the edges of the photo
• B&W is great for portraits

Action

• Freeze action by using a fast shutter speed (you’ll need plenty of light)
• Blur motion by using a slow shutter speed (lower light)
• Pan the action by following it with your camera
• Think about your point of view:  It matters where you stand
• Focus ahead of the action
• Press the shutter a moment before the action occurs
• Be aware of the background
• Timing is everything!

Creative Tips for Better Photography

• Keep it simple:  Less is more!
• Get as close as you can
• Pay attention to the foreground and the background
• Try new angles
• Think before you shoot!
• Practice seeing photo possibilities everywhere you go
• Good light is essential
• Capture the unexpected
• Never leave home without your camera

Free PDF of SNAP Your Finger Tips!  Perfect for carry-along tips when you’re out with your camera, or for use in teaching photography.

SNAP Your Finger Tips PDF

Photography lessons:

Composition Lesson

Composition Part II

*All images and documents are copyright Dawn Blanchard.