Editor’s Key Takeaways: 20 Essential Photography Tips for Stunning Shots
This blog post from PhotoWorkout provides 20 essential tips for beginner photographers to capture stunning photos.
- Golden Hours: Shoot during these times for the best natural light.
- Cloudy Conditions: Utilize diffused light for vibrant colors.
- Avoid Midday Light: The harsh light can be unflattering.
- Exposure: Be meticulous to capture details.
- Frontlight and Backlight: Use for even lighting and dramatic silhouettes, respectively.
- Shutter Speed: Select appropriately for sharp images.
- Powerful Subject: Ensure a compelling main subject.
- Simplification: Streamline compositions for impact.
- Rule of Thirds: Create balanced photos.
- Angles: Experiment for unique perspectives.
- Wide Aperture: Achieve pleasing background blur.
- Subject-Background Distance: Enhance the depth of field.
- Camera Level: Shoot at your subject’s level for intimacy.
- Color Theory: Use complementary colors for striking visuals.
- Lens Variety: Experiment with different lenses.
- Inspiration: Study beautiful photography.
- Contrast and Tonal Range: Adjust these settings to enhance your photos.
- Vibrance: Add subtle vibrance to enrich colors.
In summary, by focusing on these key elements—light, subject, and composition—every beginner can quickly elevate their photography skills.
Introduction
Do you want to capture incredible photos? The kind that really stun the audience? You can.
Capturing gorgeous photos isn’t hard. There are actually just a few simple tricks that the best photographers use over and over again. And if you practice these tricks carefully, you’ll be taking amazing photos in no time.
Which is why, in this article, I’m going to share these tricks with you.
So are you ready to discover 20 photography tips for beginners? Let’s get started!
Photography Tips for Beginners: The Basics
If you want to capture spectacular photos, there are three main things that you have to consider.
First, you must think about the light. Good light is the essential ingredient of good photography. Without good light, you’re not going to get a good photo. Period.
Second, you must carefully choose your composition. The composition refers to the arrangement of elements in the frame. It’s what makes your photo look balanced and satisfying to the eye.
Third (and finally), you must do some post-processing. In other words, you’re going to need to edit your photos–if you want them to look stunning, that is.
In light of these key topics, I’ve divided the sections below into three main categories: light, composition, and post-processing.
Light
1. Shoot During the Golden Hours for the Best Light
If you want outstanding photos, you’ve got to have great light. The best type of light for pretty much any genre of photography is golden-hour lighting. This is the light when the sun is low in the sky, about an hour or two before sunset and after sunrise.
During the golden hours, the sun casts a lovely glow over the entire scene. This helps light your images evenly and capture nice colors and details. It’s pretty tough to go wrong with golden-hour lighting.
2. Photograph During Cloudy Light for Beautiful Colors
Cloudy light is excellent too. Clouds diffuse the light so that the scene is given a softer look, allowing for high-contrast subjects to be captured effectively. The soft light makes colors seem more saturated, ideal for shooting colorful subjects, like flowers.
Pay attention to the quality of the clouds. If they are very thick and it’s late in the day, you may not have enough light for beautiful photos. Conversely, thin clouds midday can lead to harsh lighting.
3. Avoid Midday Light Whenever You Can
Midday light, when the sun is high and bright, is often too harsh and creates unflattering shadows. It’s best to avoid it and opt for softer, more flattering lighting conditions. The exception is black and white photography, where high contrast can be beneficial.
4. Expose Carefully for the Most Possible Details
Exposure refers to the level of brightness in an image. Aim for an evenly exposed photo that’s neither too bright nor too dark. Use your camera’s built-in meter to assess the scene, but be ready to make manual adjustments for dark or light scenes.
5. Use Frontlight for Even Photos of Your Subject
Frontlight, which comes from in front of your subject, is great for even lighting, especially during golden hours. It ensures your subjects are well lit but lacks the drama of backlight.
6. Use Backlight for Dramatic Silhouettes
Backlight, coming from behind your subject, can create dramatic effects and silhouettes. To create a silhouette, underexpose your photo so the subject appears dark against a bright background.
7. Choose the Right Shutter Speed for a Sharp Photo
Shutter speed affects photo sharpness. A fast shutter speed is essential for freezing motion, ensuring sharp images. Adjust based on your subject’s movement; faster for dynamic subjects, slower for still ones.
Composition
8. Include a Powerful Main Subject to Stun the Viewer
Your main subject should stand out and anchor your photo. It can be anything distinct, like a flower or a person. Ensure it stands alone without distractions.
9. Simplify Your Compositions for the Most Striking Photos
Simplify compositions by reducing unnecessary elements. Focus on a main subject with a clean background. Simplicity often indicates a strong composition.
10. Use the Rule of Thirds for Satisfying Images
The rule of thirds suggests placing the main subject a third into the frame for a balanced composition. Align subjects with gridlines or power points for a harmonious look.
11. Experiment With Different Angles for Unique Looks
Explore creative angles for unique photos. Get down low, shoot up, or try from the side. Different perspectives can reveal unseen views.
12. Use a Wide Aperture for the Best Backgrounds
A wide aperture (low f-stop) creates pleasing background blur, making the subject stand out. Be mindful of too wide an aperture that might blur important subject details.
13. Increase the Subject to Background Distance to Enhance the Blur
Enhance background blur by increasing the distance between subject and background. This technique, combined with a wide aperture, can create beautifully blurred backgrounds.
14. Get Down on Your Subject’s Level for an Intimate Image
Shooting at the subject’s eye level adds intimacy to photos. This approach works well for portraits and nature shots, creating a more engaging image.
15. Use Complementary Colors to Make Your Photos Stand Out
Complementary colors, which contrast strongly, make photos stand out. Use them deliberately in compositions for striking visuals.
16. Shoot with Different Lenses to Find Original Looks
Experiment with different lenses to avoid creative ruts. Try the opposite of your usual lens choice for fresh perspectives.
17. Look at Beautiful Photography to Hone Your Sense of Composition
Studying other photographers’ work sharpens your composition skills. Follow photographers in your favorite genres to see new possibilities.
Post-Processing
18. Boost the Contrast to Make Your Photos Pop
Enhance image impact by increasing contrast. Adjust contrast settings in editing software to make your photos more dynamic.
19. Increase the Tonal Range for the Best Images
Enhance tonal range by adjusting the white and black sliders in editing software. A wide tonal range usually improves photo quality.
20. Add a Bit of Vibrance to Enhance Your Colors
Use the vibrance slider to subtly enhance colors without oversaturation. This adjustment can make your photos more appealing.
Using These Photography Tips for Beginners
Hopefully, you now have a sense of how to capture stunning photos. With some practice and these tips, you’ll be taking beautiful photos in no time!