13 Ways to Improve your Photography

Photographs are work of art. If you’re a photographer, you must be willing to widen your creativity and imagination to excel in this field. The industry of photography is very competitive these days. Like any profession, you must put in some effort to improve your skills if you want to stand out from the rest. Below are some tips to help improve your photography skill.

1. Take Control of the Focus

If you leave your camera on its own, it will use the central focus point to focus. While this will sometimes produce sharp images, it is best to take control of your camera’s focus point. Besides, your subject will not always be in the middle of the frame at all times. Therefore, one of the skills you need to master is how to focus on the area that you wanted appear sharp. In case you didn’t know, your camera has several focus points spread across the frame. Familiarize them, so you can easily control the focus point when taking pictures.

2. Learn How to Avoid Blurry Shots

When it comes to mastering focus, you must learn how to avoid blurry shots. Usually, photos will end up blurry due to a lack of focus. But this may also be due to the camera shaking or if the subject is moving. So try to avoid these problems if you want your images to be sharp. If you can’t spot sharp areas, an incorrect focusing of the camera will give a uniform blur in the surrounding areas of the subject. So adjust your focus to achieve great results.

3. Familiarize your Camera’s Metering Modes

Get to know the metering modes of your camera and use this to your advantage. When framing an image, check the light and then meter how you wanted the subject to be exposed. Is there a ray of light that’s directly illuminating the subject? Would you prefer the background to melt in darkness? Adjusting the metering modes can help you to achieve your goal. You just need to learn how to do it right.

4. Evaluate the Background

When taking photos, pay close attention to the background. Carefully evaluate the scene before you click. This is especially important when taking portrait photos. Are you seeing a tree growing out of the head of your subject? Is there something in the background that looks distracting? You can isolate your subject from any distractions by moving the camera, adjusting the depth of field, or asking your subject to move. In some cases, consider removing the background while doing your post processing photo editing to suit your purpose.

5. Use your Camera’s Histogram

Using histogram in digital photography is the best way to evaluate your exposure to achieve accuracy. A histogram refers to a graph that shows the distribution of light in an image. Sometimes, the LCD screen of your camera can be misleading. So, you must take time to get to know everything that appears there. Learning how to read and adjust the histogram might be the key to making your photos look really great.

6. Take It Slow

Sure, there are instances when you need to take a quick draw, but taking it slow could yield excellent results. So don’t be in a hurry when taking photos. Slow down and think carefully about the shot. Try to visualize the results, and figure out what you need to do in order to achieve the results that you want, then put your plans into action. Wait for the elements to come together before you make a click.

7. Practice Good Techniques

Practice makes perfect. In photography, this applies to many things, from the way you hold your camera to how you stand when taking a shot. You might think that these factors are irrelevant, but this can certainly make a huge difference. In fact, the way you breathe when you release the camera shutter could make or break the quality of your photos. So, learn proper techniques and practice them at all times.

8. Always Look for the Light

In photography, proper lighting is everything. Before taking a shot, spend time looking for the light. In fact, this is one of those techniques that you need to practice in the field of photography. Learn how to detect reflections, sunbeams, shadows, artificial light, natural light, and all sorts of light. Once you’ve mastered this, taking great photos would be a breeze.

9. Pay Attention to the Frame Edges

Look beyond your subject if you want to take great photos. Pay close attention to the frame edges, from the sides and corners to the top and bottom. Are all the edges working well together? Or is there something that’s totally out of place? Correct these issues before taking a shot, and you will be rewarded with great images.

10. Familiarize your Lenses

Remember that the lenses of your camera have different purposes. Take time to familiarize them so you will know the right lens to use in every shoot. Know each of their strengths and weaknesses and find out which lens is suitable for photographic vision. Fisheye portraits are great, but they are not ideal for professional headshots.

11. Study the Photography of Others

Scrutinizing the work of others can benefit you in many ways. So take a look at the website of your competitors and study their photos. Which of these photos are interesting to you? What do you need to do to take similar photos? Are there any bad images? How can you avoid them? The key is to learn from your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses.

12. Attend Workshops

Never stop learning no matter how good you have become. Devote some of your time to attend workshops or take photography lessons if you can. Attend actual classes or take up online courses. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the latest techniques and innovations in photography. If you are serious about your profession, you should immerse yourself in the craft and not stay complacent with what you have.

13. Read Books on Photography

If you do not have the time to attend workshops or classes, then read books instead. There are many photography books that you can get inspiration from. Look for books written by expert photographers and learn from their experiences. If you are new to the industry, start by reading books about basic photography skills. Some of these books might be pricey, but they are truly worth it. There are wide range of free resources on how to learn about camera and photography online so you have all the resource you need to master your skill.

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