Take some advice here from a Washington DC Wedding Photographer who can help increase your personal skills in photography. As you progress, you will be able to stay away from common mistakes that ruin most shots.
Don’t rely on your camera’s zoom. Get a close as possible before you start to use your zoom. Zooming in can be helpful, but after a while the picture can get distorted. You’re better off getting as close to the subject as you can before you try to zoom in on it.
If you are planning to take pictures outside, reevaluate the lighting every 10 minutes, as lighting is constantly changing. Adjust your angle to get the best possible shot and illuminate the features that you are trying to highlight. Planning in advance is very important for producing quality photos.
Pay attention to natural lighting. You might need to use your flash feature or install additional sources of light, but you can use natural lighting to create interesting effects with light and shadow. Position your subject accordingly. Make sure the photograph is not too dark or too bright.
Don’t be afraid of taking pictures. If you use the wrong settings, it’s okay. Go ahead and take the picture anyway. If you want to photograph a person or pet, go up and ask if it’s okay; create a release form to sign if it makes you more comfortable. Just go do it!
Don’t be afraid to break some photography rules with your camera. Personal style should be in a good photograph to express your point of view. Avoid recreating certain famous photographs to see how your view differs from that of the original artist. Look for unique angles, and use your creative skills.
One of the best ways for you to learn about photography is to study examples of how to hold your camera and work your subject during photo shoots. In addition, you can talk to someone who has been in photography for a long time to gain valuable insight on your craft.
If you’re doing a landscape shot, try and capture some movement in the shot. Whether it’s the wind blowing the trees or a wave crashing against the shore, capturing this movement can add an extra layer of depth to the photograph. If you’re going to try and capture movement, make sure you’ve got the shutter speed set correctly.
A really good photography trick is to pay close attention to angles. Angles can be very helpful when you’re planning a composition. They can point towards certain things you want to focus on, creating a visual path for the viewer’s eye to travel. Make good use of them.
Your arms should be positioned near your body when you use a camera. Also, make sure you support the camera from the bottom and the sides. By holding your camera in this way, you’ll lessen the chance of moving the camera during the shot; thereby keeping it framed and steady for the best shot. By cradling the camera from below, it will help to prevent you from dropping the camera accidentally.
A great photography tip is to get to know someone before you get a shot of them. This may sound silly but simply talking to a person will give you a lot more insight on how to capture them. It can make the difference between having a genuine or generic photograph.
Play with the shadow of your object. When a shadow is projected on a distorted surface it adopts interesting shapes. You can even have an original shadow become the subject of your photograph. Arrange the lighting and the background to make shadows change and adopt a shape you want to work with.
Move in closer to your subject. When you spot something you’d like to take a picture of, snap a shot. Then move in closer and take a better shot. If you have your subject fill the frame, it will help the viewer appreciate and understand your photo. When taking the picture, continue to move closer until you are sure your picture will represent the subject.
Improving your skill as a photographer is not as hard as it seems. You must simply study a bit and practice a lot and it will pay off! The work you do now, will payoff in beautiful, interesting pictures down the road.