Do you wonder why your friends’ photos always look so crisp and clear? Are you frustrated when your photos turn out hazy and fuzzy? There are many common mistakes new photographers make, and several steps they skip that would significantly improve their photos. This article contains plenty of tips that will help improve the quality of your photos.
When you are shooting a photo of someone, make sure that you are close to them to maximize the quality of the details on their face. This is very important, as you will want to capture every aspect of their expression to help to personalize the photos that you take.
When taking a picture outside, try to do so either in the morning or before the sun sets. This is because the sky is not as high in the sky during these times, so the subject of your picture will not have as much of a shadow as it would during the midday hours.
Understand and anticipate the impact that wind will have on the photos that you take. For example, if you are planning on shooting flowers, avoid days where the wind is very active. When flowers and plants are stable, you will have the best chance to get the highest quality and resolution in your picture. In situations where you don’t have a choice, such as weddings, have a contingency plan. Are there sheltered areas where the wind will have less impact?
Once you have spotted the subject of your picture, make sure to take your shot right away. This is especially true if your subject is a living being, such as a child or animal. Since staying in one position for a long time is hard for animals and children, you want to make sure you get the pose you want.
Get an external flash unit with a diffuser instead of the built-in flash feature. These built-in flashes often make a picture look very harsh. An external flash unit gives a more natural aspect to your photographs and allows you to edit them without the noise you get when you use another kind of flash.
Be creative with colors, focus, angles, and lighting. An original object is not needed to take a picture that is good quality. A skilled photographer can take an extraordinary picture of a marginal object. Try different things to see what works for you.
If you want to be ready when the perfect shot presents itself, make sure you keep your batteries charged. Modern digital cameras use a lot more power than older cameras because of their LCD screens, so don’t get caught off-guard; charge your camera’s batteries often. Another good idea is to carry a set of spare batteries for your camera with you so that you never miss a shot.
When photographing young children, time and patience is your best friend. Children are taught to “say cheese” whenever a camera is focused on them, inevitably creating artificial, fake smiles – or worse. Ideally, a child will become comfortable being photographed when the pressure to “perform” is removed. Simply encourage them to go about their normal activities and then follow them around with your camera, clicking when they naturally smile or are obviously enjoying their surroundings.
Stop being embarrassed by your poor quality photographs, and start working to improve them. Once you understand the basics of photography, you’ll be amazed at how much better your photos will look. The next time you pull out your camera, think of the advice in this article. Applying it will leave you much happier with the pictures you take.
