So, you’re keen to get into photography? Well, now is a good a time as any; high-power digital cameras have never been more affordable. You probably have a lot of questions on how to start and what to do, but don’t worry, this article can help. Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with your photography aspirations.
Make sure you hold the camera correctly. Holding the camera correctly reduces the chance that an inopportune movement ruins your shot. Hold the camera with your arms close to your body and the palm of your hand under the camera to prevent the camera from falling or shaking.
If you want to take high quality portraits, do not rely on your camera’s built in flash. Instead you want to look at investing in a softbox to use for external lighting. If you can’t afford this, look into purchasing an external flash unit with a diffuser for your camera.
In photography, make sure that your main focus is on the quality and not the quantity of the pictures that you take. It is always better for you to get ten great shots than one hundred average shots in a day. Quality is always the better choice.
Do not shoot in full daylight. You are going to get some of your best photos on an overcast day. The bright sunlight can cause overexposure, loss of detail and terrible shadows. Shoot at dusk or at dawn on days that are not cloudy for optimum results in your photos.
Pay attention to your background. Your main focus should be on your object, but you should use the background to support it. Avoid any unnecessary distractions and clean your background to report the attention on your object. Play with lines and perspective in your background to compliment the shape of your object.
Natural light will always provide you with the highest quality photos. Cloudy days are actually better for shooting than sunny ones, because the clouds act as a natural diffuser, spreading the light out and eliminating shadows and harsh contrasts. Opt for your next photo shoot outside on an overcast day.
Understand and get to know your camera. Although this sounds simple, many people have never even read the instructions on how to operate their camera. Get to know and understand the various menus and functions of every button on it so that when you need to use a certain function, you know where to find it and that the camera can accomplish it.
When shooting people, make sure to emphasize the foreground by blurring the background a little. Having a background that is in full focus will take away from your subject, making it harder to direct your viewer’s focus to the right location. An easy way to do this is to make sure that there is a larger distance between the subject and the background.
When shooting a picture, judge the surroundings and choose the right aperture, shutter speed and ISO. All of these features will work to determine the exposure for your picture. Underexposed or overexposed pictures should be avoided, unless that’s the shot you are going for. Fiddle with the features on your camera to learn how they work.
A great photography tip is to make sure your shots have depth in them. An easy way to achieve that is to be sure that you have a background, a middle ground, and a foreground. Having all three of these will give your pictures a sense of atmospheric perspective.
Hopefully, the tips that were provided gave you some pointers that will help you to improve your photography skills. Now you are much more prepared. Before long, you’ll be shooting like a pro!
