The biggest question for budding photographers is often “how can I take better photos?”. If you are someone who has just started a new hobby of photography, or perhaps someone who has been dabbling with it for a while and looking to take your hobby to the next level, this is the article for you. Just like quality printer ink is a necessity for printing amazing images, there are a number of critical factors involved in making those images pop before they’re even ready to be sent to print. You will need a high-contrast background, the colors of dresses worn by posers, angles, lighting, backdrop, etc. Read on to find out more about how you can bring out the beauty of your photos!
1. Always Shoot In Manual
Any professional photographer will tell you this – you need to be shooting in manual mode. It is not an option – it is a must! Whilst using automatic settings seems like the easiest option, the manual mode offers you a level of control that no other setting brings to the table. Manual mode is much like using a 1960s camera where the photographer didn’t have the luxury of automatic settings. Instead, photographers were forced to learn to use their camera and truly understand how it worked. Learning to shoot in manual gives you creative control over settings such as the aperture and shutter speed you’re shooting at, along with the ability to change ISO levels to compensate for your lighting conditions. Automatic may sound easy, but watch as your images graduate to the next level when you’re shooting in manual!
2. Join Online Photography Clubs and Forums
Step two in your journey towards producing the most beautiful images possible is to join an online photography club or forum. Online socialising with other avid photographers is a fantastic way for you to learn new things as well as have your photography queries answered by professionals. You’ll be surprised at how many professionals exist on these forums and clubs, ready to hand out valuable information to budding new photographers. Another benefit of joining an online club is that you’ll be able to access valuable information on local events around you that may be worth attending and photographing. Some forums and clubs even have a section where you can buy, swap or sell your photography gear at discounted prices, thus allowing you to try out new lenses and flashes without having to break the bank.
3. Work With The Appropriate Lenses
Most photographers will tell you that the body of your camera is far less important than the actual lenses you are using with it. Different types of photography will require you to use different lenses. If you’re into nature photography, it is important that you work with macro lenses and wide-angle lenses. If on the other hand, you’re more into food photography, you’ll want a lens that lens such as a 50mm that will allow you to truly capture the beauty of the food you’re shooting. Lenses control what you shoot, and each lens is crafted to shoot different situations and subjects. Whilst it is not impossible to shoot with the “wrong” lens, it does make your job as a photographer harder. If you truly want to bring out the beauty of your photos, investing in high-quality lenses that are in line with your style of photography is essential!
4. Always Shoot in RAW
Another professional tip tp truly bring your craft to the next level is to always shoot in RAW format. Most cameras are automatically set to shoot in JPEG format, and whilst this is enough to produce some amazing photos, it doesn’t give you the level of control that shooting in RAW would. A RAW image is one that is unprocessed and offers you a lot more colours to work with than a JPEG image. Shooting in RAW gives the photographer a lot more flexibility and is often the preferred setting for images that need to be printed. You’ll be able to edit your photo with ten times as much creative control than you would with a JPEG image. Every professional photographer you’ll come into contact with will tell you the same thing – once you shoot in RAW, you’ll never look back.
5. Post Production Is Key
Last but not least, let’s look at post-production. Post-production is almost equally as important as any good camera body and lens, as it is where you’ll really be allowed to exercise your creative flair. Post-production allows you to edit your image to match what you initially saw with your eyes when shooting your images. Chances are, your camera will slightly warp images because that’s just what happens, which is why editing your images before printing is so essential. Most professionals utilise Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Both of these editing software options offer you almost everything you’d need in terms of post production. Learning how to use these tools is essential if you’re looking to bring your photography to the next level.
____________
We hope that this informative article has given you a few tips and tricks when it comes to bringing out the beauty of your photos. By following some standard photography rules and then allowing your creativity to shine with post-production, you’ll be heading from amateur to professional in no time!
