If you’re just starting out in photography and you don’t know where to begin or perhaps you have been taking pictures with your camera for a while and want to improve your shooting skills, here are some basic photographic tips for you.
Before you start about learning about photography, you should first get accustomed to your camera. So what you need is to know your camera properly, I mean the settings and other features such exposure, contrast, focal length, etc.
~ Pay attention to the background and the surrounding when you look through the lens. Make sure there is no lamppost growing out of your subject.
~ When you take photos of people on sunny days, switch on the flash to reduce the shadows on their faces. Use a compensating flash if you’re standing one or two meter from your subject. On cloudy days use the compensating flash. The flash lights up the face so it is clearly visible.
~ If your subject is smaller, stand one or two steps away when you take the photo. Zoom in to draw the subject closer. The reason for doing this is to fill the entire image with the subject. In a close up photo you can see interesting details like freckles or a slightly raised eyebrow.
~ Centre stage is the perfect place for an actor. However the centre of the image is not the best place for your subject. Make your photo come to life by positioning the subject to the one side of the centre of the image.
~ Direct eye contact is key, try to hold the camera at the eye level of the person you’re taking a photo of. Kneel if you’re taking pictures of kids.
~ Tell people how and where you want them in the photo. Whether it’s asking them to move up or come forward. You’re the photographer, so don’t be shy.
~ When photographing a landscape, place the subject in the foreground. Having elements in the foreground gives the image a certain depth.
~ Don’t always ask the subject to pose or look forwards the camera. Be versatile and unforced. While taking snapshot pay attention to how people move, how they play and all that.
~ Sometimes taking portrait photos is excellent choice. So turn your camera 90 degree angle and see what a difference does it makes.