Have you ever wanted to improve your photography skills or are you simply interested in learning more about photography? Here you will find a collection of tips to enhance your skills and master the craft that is photography. Good luck!

Learn how your camera works.

Every camera has different features and settings. Therefore, make sure you are comfortable with all the different settings such as lighting, auto-focus, apertures, and exposures. The sooner you understand how your camera works, the sooner you can go out and take picture-perfect photos!

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Rule #1, go out and take as many photos as possible. Take photos of people, nature, buildings, or anything else that you find interesting. The more you take photos, the more you will improve your artistic eye and your photography skills. Through practising, you will naturally learn more about lighting, composition, and what is aesthetically pleasing to your viewers.

Find your Passion.

Try to find something you enjoy taking pictures of and own it. Eventually, you will find a genre of photography that you completely enjoy and it will make it easier for you to hone in on your craft.

Learn the Rule of Thirds.

Have you ever heard of the Rule of Thirds? If you haven’t, don’t worry! The Rule of Thirds is where a photographer can equally divide a photo into two horizontal and two vertical lines and be able to place important elements within the photo along the lines. Overall, this will create an interesting composition piece that is more attractive to the eye.

Learn the Golden Ratio.

The Golden Ratio rule is a step above The Rule of Thirds! The Golden Ratio is a composition tool that has been used for centuries within the art industry. The rule is based on the ratio 1:1.618, which is considered to be “the perfect number”.

Often, the largest element within the photo is focused within the square at the smallest point of the Fibonacci spiral (the blue spiral above). Hopefully, this will help you keep a natural flow within the photo.

Study the Great Photographers.

Head to your local library or search online to research some of the great photographers of our current time and of the past. Learn the history of photography and the historical shifts in the invention of the camera.

Fun Fact

Did you know that when photography was invented it was seen as inappropriate to smile? In the past, photos held the same importance as self-portrait painting. It was seen as an important historical moment as it would pass down your portrait to future generations. Basically, It was a pretty big deal to get your photo taken!

Here is an article on “27 of the Most Famous Photographers”.

Make Sure to not Always be Centred.

Remember, don’t always have your subject in the center of the photo. Learn to change up your angles! Some of the best photos often have interesting compositions that are not the most traditional or expected.

Learn to Change up the Depth of Field.

Remember, try to change the main points of focus in your photographs. Do you want the focus in the background, mid-ground, or foreground? The main subject doesn’t always have to be in the foreground.

Pay Attention to the Framing.

Look through the lens and make sure nothing is being awkwardly cut off! Quite often, people will cut off feet or hair without even noticing. It’s important to have a full sense of what you’re photographing. Through this, you will be happier with the framing of your subject and it will ideally result in a better photo.

Photo Editing Software will Enhance you Photography.

Edit your photos through Photoshop, Lightroom, or any other digital editing software. These programs will allow you to fix or improve exposure, colour, lighting, contrast, temperature, and much more! This will also allow you to have more consistency between each one of your photos if you are creating a photography collection.

Breathing is Important.

Firstly, relax and take a breath before you take a shot. This will help you achieve a more steady hand and create a more stabilized photo. In the end, you will also get a better-quality photograph that is free of blur.

Don’t be afraid to get in uncomfortable positions.

Sometimes, the best photographs are taken in the most uncomfortable positions. Don’t be afraid to lie down in the grass or get in the mud. Remember, a little dirt will definitely not matter when you end up with amazing results!

Think “Lighting”.

Always try to have the light facing in front of your subject as this will allow for a brighter, more clear shot. With bad lighting placement, photos may come out dark and muggy. You may ignore this rule if you are looking for a certain effect like silhouettes.

Don’t be Afraid to get Creative with Your Photography.

Creativity is the most important thing to have in any type of art form! Please, never be afraid to take risks or take daring photos. Try your best to keep your passion for photography alive! Above all, when your creativity is flowing, you will create photos that you are completely proud of producing.

If you don’t know where to begin, here is a video to help you start those creative ideas!

Lastly, I hope these tips help you improve your skills and please don’t be afraid to leave a comment below!

Safe travels,

Carina