Tips And Ideas For Getting The Perfect Shot

By John Lin


Well, you've decided to enter into photography. Pretty cool, right? Well, except for the fact that there is so much information that you have no clue where to start. Don't worry, photography tips are here! Listed in this article are some tips that will help you get started and organized so that you can become a successful photographer.

Pay attention to your light. The lighting in a photograph can bring a subject into better focus or change the mood of the picture. Different lighting setups will result in very different photographs. Avoid harsh direct lighting on your subject's face, as this will generally cause them to squint.

Learn how to play with the shutter speed. You can choose to snap a quick picture or choose a slower exposure to capture a flow or movement in its entirety. You will need to experiment with this and find what kind of speed matches certain situations. This is a matter of personal style rather than a general guideline to follow.

A digital SLR camera will help you to advance your photography skills. These single-lens reflex cameras allow you to see your subject in real time as you take the picture. It's best to have a full-frame digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera because these have the largest image sensor, and deliver photos with the greatest amount of detail.

Natural light will always provide you with the highest quality photos. Cloudy days are actually better for shooting than sunny ones, because the clouds act as a natural diffuser, spreading the light out and eliminating shadows and harsh contrasts. Opt for your next photo shoot outside on an overcast day.

Many photographers ignore the foreground in their shots focusing on the background, but the viewer sees the foreground. Great foregrounds help to show depth in a photograph and can really make for a beautiful shot.

Read the manual that comes with your camera until you truly feel that you have a mastery for all the settings it has. Manuals are often a long read and thick with information. Most people throw manuals away without giving them a second look. If the manual is going to get tossed or buried, it should at least be read first. You will take better quality pictures without making trial-and-error mistakes.

When photographing portraits, isolate your subject. Use a medium telephoto lens or the medium telephoto setting on your zoom. That, combined with a large aperture (try f/4 or larger), blurs the foreground and background. Focus on the eyes. Use diffused lighting for a flattering look. If outdoors, wait for an overcast sky or shoot with the subject in the shadows and the sun at your back.

Do not try to be unique all the time. You will not lose your status as a good photographer if you take some classic looking shots. Learn to make the difference between what is art and what is not. Do not edit your basic pictures of your friends to make them look artsy.

Using all or some of these tips can help drastically improve the quality of shots you get with your camera in your every day life. Try taking a picture or set of pictures using these tips today and see what kind of difference you are able to notice in your photos.

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