7 Quick and Easy Photography Tips
Dancer BriAnna B at Union 206 Studio
No Fuss, No Muss!
Are you looking to take some photographs yourself? That’s wonderful! Everyone starts somewhere! Whether you just got your first pro camera or you’re working with your phone, photography has never been more accessible. Let’s make yours great!
Here’s 7 tips to help get you going!
1) Light is key. Start paying attention to where it’s coming from, how it’s landing on your subject. One of the first hurdles for photographers is getting an understanding of light. How strong it is, where it is, and what effect it’s having on your subject. Get started by choosing to put the light at an angle to your subject. Up and to one side of the camera is a great start.
2) Pay attention to your background. Look at where you are, then place your subject into the space, with that in mind. A lot of folks will create an awkward image by having a tree or fence post oddly stacked behind their subject.
3)Check the whole frame, don’t just look at your subject. You’ve got to train your eye to take in the whole viewfinder (and I do suggest you use a viewfinder when possible). Your image is not just about the subject, it’s about how they fit in that frame. What angle are you looking at them from? How far away are you? How much empty space exists around them, and how much do you want there to be? To this day, I scan around the edges of my frame to make sure things are filling out the space the way I want them to.
4) The exposure triangle is your friend. Learn what the 3 elements do, and what changing them does for your image. Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed. Also check in on Focal Length, and what that means.
5) Any space, any light, any person can be a photography opportunity. Talk to your friends, your neighbors. Just ask. Ask a lot. Graciously accept a “no”, and work with folks who say “yes”. You can make good photos in a closet with a desk lamp, if you get creative. The fancy spaces and gear are great, but they are just tools to specific outcomes, they are not necessary for making good images.
6) Get creative! If you don’t have what you want, consider what you have. You’ve got to MacGyver this whole thing. Pros do it all the time! No snoot? Cut up a cardboard box. I used a t-shirt thrown over a light once to get what I needed. As long as you, your model, and your gear are safe, you’re probably fine.
7) Have fun, be patient with yourself, be deliberate. Look at what you made, decide what you liked, and try to do that again. Decide what you didn’t like, and think about how to do it differently next time. Congratulations, you’ve just started developing your style!
If you’re interested in more direct, professional feedback, we do limited coaching! We do one on one coaching and portfolio reviews! Contact us below, or check us out on Viewbug, where you can do individual critiques through their system!
First time model, Lindsay Burdsall at Union 206 Studio