We always notice the best photos when looking through an album. There are certain pictures that just captures the attention. You can never pinpoint what it is exactly but you always know the best photos. When you see a photo, you will look into several qualities unconsciously. These minor details, when put together, give meaning to the whole photo. A good photo is obvious to any onlooker no matter their preferences are. It is hardwired into our brain to appreciate elegance and beauty when we see it.
One thing we would like is for our photos to always look great no matter what. With the advent of social media and many photo sharing applications, photo sharing is just one click away. Of course, we want to always get a good picture to share to the world. It would also be cool looking back into our pictures and appreciate the beauty of our adventures. So, how exactly can we ensure good quality photos all the time?
What is the secret to shooting good photos every single time?
The answer is easy – consistent practice. Most people think that buying a good camera would allow them to take breath taking photos but that isn’t actually the case. If you give a random guy the best DSLR camera money could buy, he can never produce top notch quality pictures because he lacks the experience. Being good at photography is learned through experience. Even the best photographers started out as beginners.
Because of our technology, most of adults have access to good camera. Your smartphone camera can be considered a good starting point. Just start with learning the basics of framing. Basically, you need to have a grasp of what makes a great photo – where to put the subject, how to control light, what to focus, and many more. After you are comfortable in framing subjects, you can proceed to learning basic adjustments.
The 3 basic adjustments in photography
You need to learn how to adjust these 3 things in order to get the best photos every single time. These 3 important aspects of photography are – aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Mastering the control of these 3 things will result in a well-exposed and well-lit photo that looks like it’s been taken by a professional.
Learn to play with light
After you’ve mastered the things above, you need to move into lighting. What makes a simple portrait exceptional is good lighting setup. A good lighting setup will highlight the best features of the subject and hide imperfections. All the photos you see on billboard or commercials are all lit artificially. You will never see one commercially used photo that isn’t enhanced by a lighting setup. That is how game-changing a good lighting setup is. A good lighting setup will turn a dull picture into something more special.
The takeaway here is to simple practice when you have the time. Understand that you can’t learn all these things in several days. You need practice to fully understand the effects of each of these things on your photography. Even when you have mastered everything, there is just so much to learn. So always keep an open mind and learn new things when you can.