3 Secrets of Photography That Will Change the Way You Work
- How to Be a Better Photographer - Five Signs You’re Making Progress
- How to Make Your Photos Stand Out
- How can you best compose and frame the shot to look its best as a large format print?
- What elements can you incorporate into the image to add texture, patterns, and other features to add visual interest?
- What will your post-processing workflow look like to enhance contrast, highlights, shadows, and so forth?
photo by momcilog via iStock
As we all know, photography is much more than standing there and aiming your camera at something pretty.
It’s hard work, and it’s work that requires constant learning and practice in order to get the best results.
Getting the best results isn’t just about learning technical things about your camera settings. Instead, there are some secrets about the artistic side of photography you need to know as well.
Have beautiful images you want to display? See what your photos look like as fine art.
Secrets of Photography: You Must Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
photo byyulkapopkova via iStock
While it’s great to specialize in one area of photography, before you find your niche, you need to explore and experiment with other types of photography.
Part of the need to do this is to simply figure out what you like and don’t like. But another part of it - a more important part, if you ask me - is to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone.
photo by jacoblund via iStock
The more you put yourself in situations in which you might fail, the more you’ll learn to overcome adversity. That’s important because not every photo shoot and not every photography trip will go as planned.
Not every photography client will be a joy to work with, either…
This isn’t to say that you need to do crazy photography challenges where you can only use one hand or you work blindfolded. Instead, push your boundaries, get uncomfortable, seek new ways to express your creativity, and all that work will benefit you (and your photos) in the long-run.
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Secrets of Photography: Create Photos With the End Result in Mind
photo by Melnikof via iStock
It’s no secret that planning and preparation is crucial for success when creating an image. Sure, there will be rare occasions when you’re in the right place at the right time and the stars align for an off-the-cuff photo that’s a total masterpiece. Those times are few and far between, though.
But I’d take the planning and preparation thing a step further and say that you need to envision what your end result will be like. And I don’t mean the final edit of the digital image…
Instead, if you envision how you’ll present the image - for example, shared on Instagram or printed to hang on your wall - you’ll be able to construct your workflow to better achieve that end.
For example, let’s say that you want to create a black and white portrait and have it printed in large format.
That being the case, you need to take a number of things into consideration like:
These and other questions are necessary to consider because the answers might be different for a photo that’s printed out than a photo you simply share on Instagram.
Something else to consider would be the kind of print you get.
I personally like canvas prints because the subtle texture adds beautiful depth and character to the prints.
I also like big prints - there’s just something about a huge canvas on the wall that I find appealing. That’s just a personal preference, though.
The point I’m trying to make here is that from the first moment you conceptualize a shot, you need to think four, five, or six steps ahead.
If you have the entire process of creating a photo from start to finish locked down, you’ll likely find that your work is easier to complete and that you get better results in the end as well!
Ready to turn your photos into gorgeous, large-format prints? Start the process now.
Secrets of Photography: Recognize That Photography is Not Just About the Subject in the Photo
photo by RichLegg via iStock
It’s easy to get caught up in what’s in front of the camera and forget that what’s behind the camera matters a lot as well.
That is, photography isn’t just about the subject matter you photograph; it’s also a lot about who you are as a person and as a photographer.
Your personality, your photography style, your mood and feelings, and a whole host of other factors influence how your images look.
And those factors might change over the course of a few months or years, or even as quickly as just a few days or weeks.
photo by seb_ra via iStock
That means that as photographers, we have to consider how our point-of-view and outlook on the world influence what we do with our cameras.
This is important because if you find yourself in a creative rut and need a change of pace, recognizing how your current state of mind impacts your photos can help you figure out how to change your perspective and create images that knock your socks off once again.
So, be introspective, think hard about how you want your final product to look, and constantly challenge yourself. If you can do these things, better photos await!
