What photos should i take

If you use one of these and buy something we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here. Like most people, I struggled to see the point in this when I bought my first digital camera. Being the only option, photographers were forced to learn to use their cameras in manual.

In doing so, they fully learned how their cameras worked. Priority modes are good for some situations. This knowledge sticks with you and subtly helps your photos improve from good pictures to great pictures. One of the main challenges of photography is to keep your photos fresh and interesting. On camera flash pop-up especially is incredibly unflattering to your subject and really flattens your image.

Photos with on-camera flash may as well have been taken on your phone. This lasted until a friend talked me into buying an external flash unit. I finally saw what I was missing — buy one now!

Natural light as your only light source can only get you so far in the search for better pictures. I try to take this a little further where possible and find new ways of looking at photos.

If you follow professional photographers on social media, you might find that they always present new ways in capturing professional shots. Instead of mounting the camera on a tripod, why not use the floor or through a crowd? Keeping a fresh perspective maintains fresh photos! I am my own telephoto lens and you are too!

Instead of zooming in, get involved in the photo. Shoot in hard light. For example, look for things that cast interesting shadows onto your scene such as window blinds or a fence. Then capture those shapes or patterns created by the shadows as they fall on your subject. For more info on this technique, take a look at hard light photography advice.

You should also learn how to edit photos like a professional. There are lots of helpful tutorials available online, including a bunch on the Adobe website.

One of the most popular is GIMP. Inexperienced photographers tend to go overboard during editing. Start with a preset look and make small adjustments to develop a consistent body of work.

For some help, here is our complete guide to manual settings on your DSLR camera. Just a few examples include tethered photography , long exposures , or creating your own 3D images. A tripod also lets you set up your shot and then take care of other aspects of the scene while keeping your camera ready to go. For example, you might want to line up a shot and then speak to a model, make lighting adjustments, or just wait for the perfect moment.

Using the professional photography tips above, you should be able to vastly improve your results without spending any money. For some help deciding between all the options out there, take a look at these guides:.

What are the Best Cameras for Portraits? The Best Lenses for Portrait Photography. The Best Cameras for Landscape Photography. If you want a way to show off your photos like a professional, you should set up your own online photography portfolio. Look for one that offers customizable templates , so you can create an online portfolio website that shows off your style.

Start your free trial with Format today! Looking for more tips on how to take professional photos? Log in Get Started. Format Team February 26, Follow The Rule of Thirds.

Create Depth. Frame Your Shot Framing is another technique that can help you take professional photos. Fill The Frame. Look for Patterns and Symmetry—Then Disrupt Them Including patterns or symmetrical elements in your photos can make them more eye-catching. Get Some Lighting Equipment Relying solely on available light is not always the right way to take professional pictures. Try Out a Light Reflector One affordable piece of equipment that will help you manage your lighting is a light reflector.

Take Advantage of Camera Flashes and Diffusers. For example, some techniques you could try out include:. Pick Up a Tripod. Upgrade Your Gear Using the professional photography tips above, you should be able to vastly improve your results without spending any money. Get the best of Format Magazine delivered to your inbox. November 11, features. October 18, resources. October 11, resources. October 11, galleries.

September 30, resources. Digital zoom will not only yield a grainy image, it will reduce the resolution of the overall photo and exacerbate any vibrations from your hands, leaving you with an inferior representation of that adorable canine.

In general, avoid digital zoom as often as possible — but knock yourself out with the telephoto lens on your smartphone, if it has one. And that glaring light coming from a single source will more often than not give your images a harsh, odd-colored look compared to light being diffused from one or multiple sources.

Instead of depending on an underpowered light to properly illuminate your subject, try to find other sources of light you can use, be it the waning sun, some indoor lights, or even some candlelight if you want to get artsy with it.

Cloud storage services, like Google Photos or iCloud, can be a great way to take a ton of photos without worrying about how much space is left on your phone. But if you want to hold onto every pixel, or prize image quality above everything, storing photos in their original format and paying the premium of a few bucks each month might be worth it.

Pocket-sized tripods are perfect for smartphone photography, and are often device-agnostic, meaning you can use it with almost any phone. You can even purchase smartphone cases with built-in mounting threads to stick them on more professional tripods or other camera accessories like shoulder straps. Hate setting a timer and sprinting into frame only to get an awful picture out of it?

Sounds like you need a remote shutter, an ideal accessory for shooting images that require a more steady hand, or self-portraits.

Not an Android fan?