Do you ever look at photos with millions of likes on Instagram or on the pages of a magazine and wonder how anyone could take a photo like that? Well, it’s actually not that difficult to learn how.
Although there is no single way of taking professional photos and for some, it may take years of experience, as an amateur photographer you’ll realize there are plenty of small factors that can significantly improve your photography.
Here are a few simple and easy-to-learn tips you can follow to enhance your photos without much effort.
Get the Right Camera and Gear
A lot of people simply blame their bad photography skills on the camera they use, but in reality, you don’t need to have an expensive, professional setup to take professional-level photos.
While expensive gear and cameras can certainly improve the quality of your pictures, taking beautiful shots on a moderate budget isn’t impossible. To improve your photography, you should:
- Fully understand the functionalities of your phone’s camera
- Purchase a tripod to take more stable and steady shots
- Use the right lens
- Know your limits
Use Lighting to Your Advantage
Lighting is one of the most ignored aspects of photography by amateur photographers, which is the reason why it’s high on the list. Professionals know that lighting is the most important thing to taking professional photos as it determines how you highlight and present the subject of the photo.
With landscape photography, the time of day when you take the photo is the biggest factor. Typically, the best shots are taken either very early at sunrise or late when the sun is setting.
When you’re taking photos for advertised items like long t shirts for men on a live model, it is generally best to keep your light sources behind you. Doing that can help you create a professional, eye-catching silhouette shot.
Learn to Adjust the Settings Correctly
One of the biggest differences between the cameras we used to have and modern cameras is their ability to take incredible photos completely on automatic. Unfortunately, a lot of people get used to these settings and never explore their possibilities.
Learning how to manually adjust the settings on your camera and lens is essential if you’re serious about becoming a professional photographer. The two most crucial settings you need to master are the shutter speed and aperture.
The aperture refers to how wide your lens opens when taking photos. This has two effects on photos: the amount of light and depth of focus. On the other hand, shutter speed is essentially how long your shot is exposed to light.
Understand the Basics of Photo Editing
The final touches that take place in photo editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom are truly what make a photo look professional. Naturally, photos need to be taken with the camera set up well, good lighting, and framed shots, but beginners are often surprised to see how different a professional photo looks before being edited.
Without editing, photos will lack contrast and look flat. Photo editing allows you to take control of the lighting and contrast levels to boost the colors on display. There are plenty of resources online that can help you learn the basics of photo editing programs.