Not every one of us might be a professional photographer, but that doesn’t deter us from trying to get the best shots we can for our Instagram feeds. Still, can we take great-looking photos while lacking the decked-out equipment like those found in a photography studio in Singapore?
We say that the answer is yes. With camera technology far surpassing what we have in the past decade, learning to take good photos with your latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone can be simply attributed to understanding the foundations of photography. From composition, lighting, framing and even your instinct as an amateur photographer, following the tips below will bring your photography game to the next level.
Step 1: Use natural light
Amateur photographers often underlook natural lighting. They feel they need to tamper with the lighting to give their subject a better look or focus. While this is a complicated topic, we recommend our friends who have recently picked up photography to avoid using the flashlight on their phones (or cameras) and maximise the use of natural light. Not only will you get a better colour grading (the flashlight is often very blueish and doesn’t suit every type of photo), but it also allows you to go the extra mile in capturing a natural-looking photo that is often richer and brighter.
Still need more light, you say? Take a photo near the windows during the day when natural light is present, or get your subject to stand near an ambient light source, such as street lamps or indoor lights. If all else fails, use a flashlight sparingly or take photos without a flashlight to compare and contrast the difference and see which picture you like best.
Step 2: Don’t overexpose your images
With editing software, a photo that is too dark may be made brighter, while an overexposed image cannot be fixed. By changing the brightness of your screen, you can avoid overexposure. Tap and move your finger up or down to adjust exposure.
Changing the lighting before taking your picture is another approach to avoid overexposure; in the example above, the brightest portion of the frame would be the windows.
While this delves into photo editing, it is simply a simple step you can follow (on your Instagram m account editing software even), where you can improve the lighting of your short with a few buttons.
Step 3: Follow the rule of thirds
The arrangement of an image’s forms, textures, colours, and other components is called composition.
One of the most well-known compositional and framing guidelines, the rule of thirds, refers to a straightforward technique for balancing your image. It creates balance by dividing a picture into a 3:3 grid and aligning the topics or objects along the lines.
However, “balanced asymmetry,” in which the topic is off-centre but is counterbalanced by another item, can also provide a lovely appearance. In this instance, the sun in the top-left corner serves as a counterpoint to the flowers positioned in the lower-right part of the image. Seasoned photographers will know to turn on the gridlines setting and use this to better frame their subjects in their photos.
Step 4: Consider your viewpoint
You probably hold your phone at about eye level and press the shutter while taking a picture. The majority of people also act in such a way. Fight the urge to do this if you want to take unique, intriguing pictures.
Even when photographing a well-known location or topic, looking at things from a different angle will provide you with new insights. Try shooting from above or below, getting low to the ground, or climbing a wall if you’re feeling very daring.
This is a single step often overlooked by those new to photography, but every small step counts to creating that perfect shot you want.
Step 5: Draw the viewer’s eye
“Leading lines” cross your image in photography, pull the attention, and provide depth. These might be highways, structures, or organic things like trees and waves.
Watch for leading lines and employ them to give your shot momentum or a purpose. You may use leading lines, like in the image below, to draw attention to your subject or make the overall picture more appealing.
Step 6: Don’t forget to get creative
Photography is a creative and intuitive exploit that we embark on to grab the most appealing shot. While there are often rules and tips we follow, sometimes, going out of the way can teach us new things or capture an image we never knew we could get.
Get inspired by other photographers or images of those shooting in the same genre as you. This is what we at Firefly Photography, a photography studio in Singapore, recommend to those trying to pick up the craft. While there are times we love to take a great shot, there are also times when hiring a professional photographer that understands all the dos and don’ts can come into play. If all these and more are what you’re looking for, drop us a message, and we’ll see that you get the best photos for your event today!
