Not pleased with the quality of your photos?
That's actually a good thing...
If you're unhappy with your images, that usually means that you've got the drive to figure out what it is you don't like, what you might be doing wrong, and to learn photography techniques that will help you rectify the situation.
And learning photography tips and tricks is easier today than ever before, so that's a definite bonus!
In the video above, Bright Side offers up 20 simple, yet effective photography tricks that will help you improve the quality of your photos.
Some of the tips are so easy you'll wonder why you never thought to do them.
Others are a little more complex, but at the end of the day, you can implement any of these photography tips into your workflow with ease.
Here's a few of my favorite tips from the video...
Editor's Tip: Your best photos deserve to be seen, not just stay on your memory card. See what your photos look like as fine art.
Basic Photography Tricks: Pay Attention and Declutter
I know it sounds like a no-brainer to pay attention when you're taking a photo, but believe me when I say that a lot of photographers don't give their images enough attention before they take the shot.
This usually manifests with something weird or distracting in the background, like a tree branch that looks like it's impaled a person's head or a trash can or some other unsightly object lingering behind the subject (like the man in the white shirt in the background of the photo above).
But by taking five seconds to check the background, look at the corners of the shot, and fine-tune the composition, you'll have much more success.
It's also smart to declutter the background while you're at it...
By decluttering, I mean that the more stuff that's going on in the background, the more your primary subject has to compete for the viewer's attention, and that's a bad thing.
Instead, whether you're taking a portrait, creating a landscape photo, or something in between, strive to keep the background as clean and simple as possible.
Doing so will help your primary subject stand out, and the stronger the subject, the more appealing the photo will be for viewers.
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Stabilize Your Camera
This is another photography trick that sounds like a no-brainer, but for whatever reason gets forgotten by some beginners.
If you don't stabilize your camera in some way, you run the risk of having blurry photos. That's especially true if you're shooting at night.
Stabilizing your camera doesn't necessarily mean to have a tripod (though that's a great idea!), either.
Even if you hold your camera correctly, you'll give it more stability.
That is, don't hold your camera out at arm's length like everyone does when they take a photo with their smartphone. Don't take photos one-handed, either!
Instead, tuck your elbows into your chest and lock your wrists in place to act as support for the camera.
Additionally, if you use a DSLR or mirrorless camera, place your left hand under the body of the camera as shown above (not on the side of the lens as some people do).
Doing so will give your camera further stability as you hold the camera's grip in your other hand.
And unless you're taking a very low-angle or high-angle shot, opt for using the viewfinder on your camera rather than using the LCD on the back of the camera body.
This gives you yet another touch point that will help keep your camera as stable as possible.
Editor's Tip: Not sure what lens you should buy? Learn why a 50mm lens is a must-have for any photographer.
Use Filters
One of the best ways that you can improve your photography is by using lens filters to enhance your images.
Sure, you can edit photos in Photoshop, Lightroom, and other post-processing programs, but as powerful as those tools are, they still can't match the quality of results that you get with polarizing filters, neutral density filters, and graduated neutral density filters.
That's especially true if you invest in top-quality filters that are precision-made for the best results, like those from Formatt-Hitech.
Just consider all the ways that filters can help you take better photos:
- Use a polarizing filter to increase contrast in the sky, reduce glare off non-metallic surfaces, and reduce atmospheric haze.
- Use a graduated neutral density filter (like the one shown above) to even out the exposure level of a scene by darkening the bright sky.
- Use a neutral density filter to minimize the amount of light entering the lens, allowing you to slow down the shutter for gorgeously blurred movement of clouds and water.
In other words, by taking the time to use filters in the field, you can save tons of time trying to recreate the same effects in post-processing.
And when you use Formatt-Hitech filters, you know that you get something that's crafted with the utmost precision so that you get top-notch results.
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Be Patient
If you ask me, this is one of the most difficult things to do as a photographer.
In my case, I'm naturally impatient, so sometimes I rush through my shots. That's definitely not a good thing.
Not only does being impatient make mistakes more likely to occur, but it also gives me less time to focus on things like the lighting, composition, framing, and so forth.
Instead, it's best to approach photography with the mindset of getting perhaps just one or two great shots each time you go out to shoot.
With that frame of mind, you'll likely spend more time concentrating on what you're doing for each shot rather than firing away at everything that you see.
Again, this is a simple photography trick, but it can have a hugely positive impact on your photos.
Don't forget to check out the complete video above for even more great photography tips and tricks!
Learn More:
- 12 Mistakes Beginner Photographers Make and How to Fix Them FAST
- Beginner Photography Tips: Advanced Controls That Will Take Your Photos to the Next Level