If there’s one thing I’m obsessed with at the moment it’s how to take better pictures. For business, but also for pleasure. I watch YouTube tutorials, I’ve read books and PDF downloads. All on how to take better photos. When I want to know something, I go all out for it. OB-SESSED. Improving my skills is where it has been at, for me because I love capturing a moment, and for my business.
This post isn’t about the humble brag of finding a new branch of my business. It’s about what I’ve learned in the process of getting better. And I’m a long way from great, good even, but I’m learning. So, are you ready to grab some tips to improve your photography today? Easy tips that you can put into action right now and see a change.
Ready to take better photos?
For me, the biggest factor in taking better photos is WANTING the photo. Whether you’re taking it or being in it, you really have to want to be there capturing that moment. That is what you’re doing after all. Whether it be a product to be sold or a family Christmas, these are moments to be captured.
Are you the person to do it?
For a long time, I stopped taking my camera with me to places. It stayed home and there was no chance of every capturing anything. I wasn’t that into it. Then, all of a sudden, I started bringing it along again. My camera, although often left unused, at least it was there. From there, it was a case of just taking more photos, practising and slowly but surely get better. One day it just happened, I was able to take better photos.
Practice makes perfect.
I could pretty much leave this one here and call it a day. For a while, I almost did. One of THE most effective and immediate ways to improve the photos you take is to take more of them. Try it. Take your camera on an outing or set up a flat lay. Instead of snapping a handful of photos, take hundreds. Approach it as an exercise in seeing things differently. Just make sure you take lots.
You might just be surprised at what you have in there.
But practice isn’t just about firing off a million and one pictures. It’s about looking at what you did take and seeing how you could have done it better. Did you crop off someone at a wide spot or miss focus point? Great. Now you know how to do it better. Try again. Something distracting in the background or the picture is weirdly framed? No problem, work out how to avoid that next time. Learn to see it before you hit the shutter button.
Get to know your camera.
The main thing you can do to take better photos is to take some time to get to know your camera {or device}. As soon as I got my new camera, I started hunting for tutorials on YouTube to walk me through the different settings and buttons and modes. All the things. If you’re shooting with your phone, don’t stress, there is plenty out there for you too.
The more you know, the more you can do and the faster you can get. For me, at the moment, changing back from the Fujifilm to Nikon is tricky. Even though I learnt how to use a Nikon originally, I’ve been using my Fujifilm camera for a couple of years now and it’s become second nature. That’s what you’re going for. Make those settings and buttons familiar.
Focus + Angles.
While you’re taking those million and one practice photos, take the time to try different points of focus and angles. Make your photos more interesting by looking at the subject differently. Practice using your focus points to choose what to put in and out of focus. Try standing above or below something. Trying something outside the ordinary will immediately make your photos better.
Can I say, there are more ways to take a photo than you would think.
It could be about moving around so that the lighting is better from the other side. It could be that all of a sudden that plate of food looks more interesting from above or from level to the table. Consider everything, it’s the digital age there’s no such thing as wasting film {was there ever though, really?}. Keeping moving, keep shooting and remember to keep looking. Before long, you’ll be taking better photos too.
An idea or concept.
Before you snap that picture, do you know what it is you want in it? Do you have any idea what you want it to say? That might seem like a weird idea or suggestion, but taking a moment to take better photos by knowing WHY you’re taking a photo. And sure, making memories might be part of it, but why this moment? Why right now? If you know what you’re capturing, and a little bit about the why. Trust me, it will help you see the story in the image.
In the end, the images you are taking are the story. It’s up to you to find a way to convey it to those who see them. What’s happening? Who ARE these people? What matters in this moment and why did you think it was worth saving? Start to answer those questions for yourself. Start to see the moments you capture through that and you’ll take better photos. Why? Because they’ll mean something.
Pin for later?
There you go, team. My hot tips for taking better photos. Now get out there and practice, because like I said, practice is really what makes all the difference here. I’d love to see what you come up with, feel free to tag @sugercoatit on Instagram. Happy snapping!
Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.
Great tips! I’m always trying to improve my photos too! I find looking at other better photographers’ photos helps me a lot especially in inspiring me re different angles to take photos from.
I’ve recently started taking food photos for my separate food IG account in addition to my beauty and fashion photos. It’s interesting how completely different angles apply to food photos as opposed to beauty product photos. It’s another steep learning curve for me!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
Thank you, Ingrid! I take a lot of food photos, too. It’s a WHOLE other beast. Practice makes perfect, though and I keep trying and learning. At least food just sits still long enough for you to take the photo. Haha. Good luck with your photos, I hope those angles help!
Great tips!!! It really is about just shooting as much as you can and analysing those images. Read as much as you can and as widely, about all sorts of photography, sometimes you can find some little gems or tips in a post about landscape or night photography that will work just as well for portrait or product photography. I also think learning how to do basic editing is a really good idea because a few simple tweaks to things like contrast & clarity can take an image from good to great.
#teamIBOT
Thank you, Kylie! And such a great addition to the items listed. Read and watch and try ALL the things. Then apply them, of course. Test them out.
Yes, of course! I might have to do a little guide to basic edits to make. You’re so right about how much that can change a simple image into something wow.
I mainly take snaps on my phone these days but would love to get more out of my dslr
I watched a well-known street photographer interview on YouTube last night and he carries around a point and shoot and/or his phone most of the time. The technology is just that good. Like the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have on you, for sure.
I love taking photos and I just got myself a new camera so I really need to experiment. Hopefully I will improve soon!
Ooooo! Perfect timing. I’m deep in those new camera vibes right now. It’s a glossy honeymoon phase, enjoy it. Take lots of pics, review them and your eye will improve, that’s really all that matters to a great photo, IMO.
Fabulous tips thanks- love them all especially the angles one. I am doing “a year with my camera” which is a free online course with Emma Davies that will get me to learn all about my camera to get off auto and work on composition etc as well. I swore I would use my DSLR more last year but rarely did. This is the year!
Thank you, Deb. The course sounds wonderful, I’ve been watching YouTube channels about photography for months now getting inspired to try new things. It’s so important to have a guide in these things, I can’t wait to see what comes of your course and your newfound connection with your DSLR.
This is so well timed as I’m currently baking my way through the blog archives and giving the pics an extreme makeover – and man, do they need it. My dark, brown abode does me no favours but I think my photography is improving slowly but surely. I love the idea of taking the camera for more outings so that using it is more second nature than special occasion!
Yeeesss! I need to do this so badly. I have a dahl and a custard recipe (not the same one, thankfully, lol) that get pinned and repinned ALL the time and their single images are literally gross. Reshooting old recipes has been on my list for ages, want to do mine too? Haha.
Take it along, you’d be surprised how often things happen or you can capture moments that wouldn’t have been capture without it. It becomes a whole thing.
Great tips! I am going through a phase of disliking the photography side of blogging at the moment because I feel like I’m no good at it. It may have just been bad lighting in the last few photo sessions though, that has me bummed out. Love your focus and angles tip!
Di from Max The Unicorn
Thank you, Dianne. I totally get that. It can be a frustrating hobby at times, that’s for sure. I hope this helps. x
Nice tips , MELISSA. Has helped me a lot as i am working on Jewellery https://www.makevana.com.au/silver-jewellery
Thanks! Hope they help you get some photos of your range. 😉