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How To Take Amazing Photos As A Beginner.

Tips on how to take great photos when your just starting out in photography.

By Una SavagePublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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Camera Girl III by CYNOP deviantart.com

For those who are interested in getting into photography, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the learning curve of cameras and lenses, not to mention all the photo editing programs out there. However, it doesn’t need to be that complicated! Whether you are using your smartphone or a DSLR camera with multiple lenses, there are some easy tricks that any beginner can apply to take excellent photos. If you want to get started with your photography hobby, these tips on how to take amazing photos as a beginner will help make sure you have fun and end up with stunning results!

Cat by HoneyMoon16 deviantart.com

Planning your shots

When you're new to photography, the best thing you can do is practice. And the best way to practice is by shooting with intent. So before you head out and start taking pictures, ask yourself these questions: Who am I photographing? What are they wearing? What's their natural environment like? How will my environment be different from theirs? Where am I going to shoot this person or object from, and why? Am I trying to capture just one moment or the entire subject in front of me? Do I want the shot to focus on the surroundings or the people? Do I want it to look candid or staged? By planning your shots, you'll have a better idea of how much time it'll take for you to get them just right.

lights.camera.action by JEANFAN deviantart.com

Different types of lighting

This is an important topic for beginners because bad lighting can make your images seem flat and lack contrast. If you are shooting indoors, try using natural light coming in from windows. This will produce more even lighting which will result in better pictures. If you are outside, be mindful of the position of the sun relative to your subject. The best time of day to shoot outdoors is when the sun is just above the horizon so that it provides backlighting. You might want to invest in a reflector too. It's essentially a large piece of reflective material that you can use to fill shadows or increase the amount of light being reflected onto your subject. Reflectors come in different colors like gold, silver or white. You'll find these at any art store or photography supply store

Editing your images

Learning to edit your images is one of the most important parts of photography. It's the difference between an amateur photo and an artistic photo. You can do this with any photo editing software. The first thing you'll want to do is remove anything that distracts from the subject. Sometimes this means removing things in the background or in other areas of the image, but it also means cropping out things like awkward hands and feet or someone blinking on accident.

If you are struggling with how to crop your picture, try adding arrows onto each corner. When you click on one arrow, it will indicate which direction that particular corner will move when cropped down. Once you've got a perfect composition (background-wise), then you're ready to play around with colors and textures! Be sure not to go too crazy here. Too many filters can be a distraction and make the photo look fake. Play around until you find something that matches the mood of your photo. For example, if you have taken a beautiful sunrise shot, experiment with warm colors like yellows and oranges! Adding these elements can really make your pictures pop!

Camera by HoneyMoon16 deviantart.com

Don’t rely on auto settings

When you're first starting out, it can be really tempting to use your camera's auto settings. However, this is not always the best option. Auto settings are great for situations where you need quick shots without fussing with your settings, but they don't make up for the lack of understanding of how photography works. The better you understand how your camera works and what different modes do, the more creative and successful you will be with your photographs. Once you learn about all the different options in your camera and how each one affects your shot, that’s when you should start relying on them. For example, if you want to capture motion then try using the burst mode setting. If you want to focus on certain colors or objects in your photo then try adjusting the white balance (WB) or aperture (A). If you want a specific focus point within your frame then try using manual focus (MF) mode. As long as you have an understanding of what these settings do and which ones work best for your particular goal, then go ahead and rely on them!

Fingers by HoneyMoon16 deviantart.com

Conclusion

If you're just getting started with photography, the best thing you can do is keep shooting and learning. You'll find new techniques and get better with time. So go ahead, get creative! Find your own style and shoot away. The more you practice, the better your photographs will become. Remember: Photography is not a one-time event; it's an ongoing journey of self-discovery and expression. The only way to truly be successful at it is by never giving up on yourself or your craft. And even if you don't feel like you have what it takes right now, don't give up hope. That feeling won't last forever. What feels impossible today may not seem so bad tomorrow. As long as you believe in yourself and work hard, there's no reason why you can't do anything. No matter how dark things may seem, there will always be something that brings light back into your life eventually.

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About the Creator

Una Savage

I'm Una Savage. I love reading and writing, and I enjoy traveling. Most importantly, I'm the mother of an autistic child which is both challenging and rewarding, and it has taught me a great deal about life and myself.

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