Looking for ways to improve your photography?
This article has got you covered...
Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming learning how to improve your photography, but often, with small changes in how you approach taking photos, you can make a huge difference in the quality of those photos.
In the video above, Joe Allam offers up a few quick and easy photography tips that can have tons of impact on the results you get.
These tips aren't about composition or technical matters like camera settings. Instead, they seek to help you improve your photography by improving your mindset about photography.
For a quick overview of each of Joe's tips, check out the article below.
Shoot in the Right Light
If you've ever taken a photo of a landscape in the middle of the day and found that there's harsh highlights and shadows, or if you've ever taken a portrait in the middle of the day and found that the model's skin was washed out or that there were heavy shadows under their nose, you know the perils of shooting in bad lighting.
Although it's not always possible to plan your day such that you aren't shooting under the harsh light of the afternoon, to the extent that you can, try to shoot early in the morning or late in the evening.
Golden hour - the hour or so after sunrise and before sunset - is an ideal time to shoot because the light is soft and warm and illuminates your subject beautifully.
Don't discount blue hour, either, which occurs just before sunrise and just after sunset, when the light changes to cooler tones like blue and purple.
Either way, these are prime times to take photos outdoors because the lighting is so much more pleasing than what you find during the middle of the day.
Editor's Tip: Photography is an adventure, so make the most of your time outdoors with your camera. Explore ways you can use iconic spots like Monument Valley to step up your photography game.
Always Have Your Camera Ready
You can't take photos if your camera is buried in the bottom of your backpack...
So this tip is really quite simple - keep your camera at the ready.
Whether that means carrying it around your neck on a neck strap, carrying it in a camera backpack, using a camera harness, or some other means, keeping your camera handy and ready to shoot at a moment's notice will get you better shots, more often, especially when time is of the essence.
Besides, you never know when a photo opportunity will present itself, so be ready!
Learn More:
- 4 Easy Landscape Photography Tips for Beginners
- 10 Beginner Photography Tips and Camera Settings You Need to Know
Make Photography Your Primary Focus
Again, this is a very simple way to improve your photography.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, so the more time you can find to be behind the lens, the more you'll be able to improve your photography skills.
It can be difficult to find the time to dedicate yourself fully to photography, so if you have a busy life and work schedule, just make an effort to at least shoot every day.
Take your phone out with you at lunch and see what you can find to photograph around your place of work.
Have a point-and-shoot camera in your car for handy roadside photoshoots of interesting things.
The point is that making an effort to take photos every day - even just a few snaps - will help you begin to figure things out in terms of composing a photo, camera settings to use, how to get a focused shot, and so forth.
Editor's Tip: A critical component of being a better photographer is understanding how to use your gear. Learn how to read the markings on your lens.
How to Improve Your Photography: Be Critical of Your Work
As Joe points out in the video, a great way to improve your photography skills is to critically analyze your work.
This, of course, goes beyond looking at your photos and thinking, "Man, that sucks."
Instead, really dive deep into your photos, especially the ones you like.
Consider what it is about the photo that makes it pleasing to view. Also consider what you'd do differently given the chance.
Perhaps even better, have other people give you feedback on your work. That can be a bit of an intimidating task to put your photos out there for critique, but having an extra set of eyes on your photos will only help you get better at this whole photography thing.
By seeking out opportunities to take more photos and get feedback on the photos you take, you'll be well on your way to improving your photography!