How to Take a Good Photo

Everybody enjoys recording special moments with a photograph, but often the picture does not live up to the actual experience. There are a number of simple tricks which can help you to take better photos.

It is important to take the time to set up your shot correctly. Many people take endless pictures that are all end up looking exactly the same, with a posed family group standing before various interchangeable backgrounds. By being a little more inventive, and trying something different, you can get much more personal photos that reveal the true nature of your subjects.

You should always be aware of what is in the background, as well as paying attention to your actual subject. You don’t want anything too distracting. Choosing a fairly plain background with one or a few colors that complement your subject will make the picture come together as a whole. If you are outside then photographing against some green vegetation, with perhaps a few brightly colored flowers can create a good portrait photo.

When you set up the shot, think about how the subject is positioned within the frame. Many people automatically try to get the subject into the center of the picture, but you can get a more pleasing result by shifting the camera so that they are placed to one side, or in the corner. This works particularly well with holiday pictures, when you want to get some of the scenery into the picture with your travel companion in the foreground. Try experimenting with different shots, and see how setting the subject off-center can change the mood of the picture.

Think about the picture as a whole. Don’t fill most of the shot with boring background. Your subject should usually fill the whole frame. Try zooming in or stepping a bit closer. Even when you think you have the perfect shot you will often find that taking another from a little bit closer in will create a stronger, more detailed picture.

Try changing the level at which you are taking the shot. Kneel down and tilt the camera up to get a shot of a tall building, or put your camera at the eye level of a child or animal. A tripod can be useful when you are setting up a planned shot rather than napping at something on the move. It will make sure the camera is held steady. Don’t get too used to keeping the tripod on the same level, however. Try adjusting the height to fit the photo you are taking, and be ready to abandon it altogether if necessary. You can always steady the camera against a hard surface such as the top of a wall or the ground. You can try turning the camera on its side to get a vertical shot. Changing the shape of your shot from long to tall will allow you to try new compositions.

Photography is all about light. Use your flash to brighten up your subject if necessary. You may need to use it outdoors, even on a sunny day, in order to get rid of shadows that are covering your subject. Remember though that you will need to be fairly close in order for the flash to light up what you are photographing.

As you set up the shot, think about what the light is doing. You will be able to do most about the lighting when you have a mobile subject, such as a person, who you can position in the best light, but you can also time your shots of landscapes to get the best light. Don’t take a photo with people squinting into bright light, but you should also remember not to position them with their backs to any strong light as they will appear much darker against it.

The best way in which you can improve your photographs is to take lots of them. You will learn more from experience than you can by reading other people’s advice. Take plenty of shots of each subject, trying different compositions and moving to new angles, and don’t be afraid to try breaking some of the “rules” of photography – a photo in which your subject is a dark silhouette against a bright sky can be very atmospheric, although it will not make a detailed portrait. It depends what you want from your photo.