I have always had a fascination for cameras and photography since I was a child. I was always sneaking off with my mom’s camera and taking pictures. I still have some of the photos tucked away in a box that I refer to as my memory box, which has varied treasured mementos that are mostly from my childhood. It wasn’t until I received my first professional camera as a teenager that my love for photography deepened. Click. Click. Click. My camera went wherever I went, capturing everyday life’s moments here, there, and everywhere.
One of my biggest passions today, still lies within photography. I’m spontaneous when it comes to photography, thus I love to photograph a wide variety of subjects. I take pictures of anything that catches my eye, whether I’m traveling or taking a stroll. As the old adage goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
Photography is a form of art and expression that comes in boundless ranges of different styles: documentary (i.e. Mary Ellen Mark, Dorothea Lange, and Elliott Erwitt), weddings, food, off-beat (i.e. Diane Arbus), travel, fashion (i.e. Irving Penn), street (i.e. David Alan Harvey), portrait, sports, landscape, wildlife, and so forth. Hobbyist and professional photographers alike express themselves or cleverly weave stories through the lens of their camera.
How to Improve Your Photography
Get to Know Your Camera
Getting to know your camera is a must! The best way to get to know your camera is to shoot with your camera every day! Workshops, video tutorials, and camera manuals may teach you the basics, but experience is truly the best teacher. The more you use your camera, the more familiarized you will be with it.
Natural Light
Natural light is a photographer’s best friend since its advantageous in many ways! The best natural light is in open shade, especially since this type of lighting is lower in contrast and softer. I prefer avoiding the sun as my main light since it can produce the most undesirable pictures (i.e. harsh shadows) when shooting portraits.
See Things from a Different Perspective
It’s easy to find hundreds of pictures on Instagram that people have taken at the same places you’re traveling to. This is why you may feel like you have to take the same pictures. Don’t always fall victim to repetitiveness! Use your lens to tell a story in your own perspective by capturing subjects at unique angles or off the beaten path like British photographer Oliver Curtis did. Oliver Curtis visited the world’s most visited locations like the Mona Lisa at Louvre in Paris, France; Christ the Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and Taj Mahal in Agra, India and pointed his camera the “wrong” way.
Choose the Right Background
I love my backyard, but it isn’t typically the backdrop of any of my pictures! I actually often scout for different locations to take my pictures. I will even travel miles for a picturesque backdrop, whether it’s a time-worn building or sea of trees. My love for nature is quite evident since anything nature related is often seen in my pictures. Choose a background that is uncluttered and isn’t visually distracting.
Use a Quality Editing Program
Adobe Photoshop has evolved in leaps and bounds over the years and still remains as the most effective photo editing program to this day! It became my primary photo editing program when I first started blogging in 2004. I now mostly use Adobe Lightroom these days for my photo processing needs, but I still love to use Photoshop! I use Lightroom for quick and basic photo editing like rotating, smoothing out the grain by bumping up the luminance, resizing, cropping and fixing poor lighting or white balance. There is also a number of presets that you can incorporate in the program to bring out the best in your pictures!
My love for photography and traveling go hand in hand – the passion for taking pictures of places I’ve visited and sharing my memories are two things I always enjoy doing. I’m in the midst of upgrading my camera and would love to have a superb camera like the Olympus® OM-D E-M5 Mark II.
The Olympus® OM-D E-M5 Mark II will capture my memories in pristine quality to be treasured for years to come! This is why I love that Olympus® is running the Olympus Takes You There promotion. Each purchase of the Olympus® OM-D E-M5 Mark II is eligible for a complimentary Domestic Flight courtesy of Olympus! I would visit Portland since I have always been fascinated by its eccentricity and diversity of characters. Where would you visit if you had a ticket to visit anywhere in the United States?
These are great tips. An excellent camera is essential, but you also need to have a good eye. Love it!
Thank you for these awesome tips. I am trying to improve my photography for my blog. i know i desperately need a new camera preferably a DSLR but can’t afford one so working with my old Samsung is hard. This will help alot.
Being a blogger, I am looking to improve my photography. The Olympus looks like a great camera and it seems like it makes taking good photos a breeze.
I definitely need these tips. I really need to take some time to hone my photography skills. Practice makes perfect, right?
What great tips, I am always looking to becoming better at taking pictures. My sister could use these!
There are so many functions with my camera that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I am sure there are some neat features that I am missing. Might be breaking out the manual soon!
These are very useful tips. I am saving up for a good camera. Right now I am only using my phone.
These are great tips for improving your photography. I do know that using the natural light while taking photos makes them better in my opinion. It is so important to have a good editing program too. Thanks for sharing these awesome photography tips.
Great tips! I’m actually getting ready to take a photography class to help improve myself!
Thank you for these wonderful and helpful tips. I love taking pictures too although I am not good at it.
I really want to invest in a DSLR camera. I am currently using my cell phone for blog photos. I try to showcase the products outside because the lighting is the best.
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Every blogger needs to work on photography! It’s such an important skill and I can always use more tips like these. Great post!
These are good tips. I think that knowing this is the base of good photography, but so much is about practice and refining who you are as an artist.
I have heard great things about that camera! I use my iphone more than I should. And I agree – natural light is everything!
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Photography will always be one of the things that I love learning about. It’s a beautiful hobby! I love the idea of capturing nature, so right now I’m so into flower photography.
Omg what great tips!!!!! And this camera! Omg! Looks like a great buy!
Wow, great tips! I think lighting really affects a lot. I will try these.
I’m always looking for ways to improve my picts as well. I love how my photos look in natural light, so I changed a few bulbs in the room I take pictures in to help with that and I’ve noticed a big difference.
I have been searching for the right camera for my work, which is street style. Actually my best friend, is my photographer, but we always want to improve our work. Thanks for the awesome tips.
These are some really awesome tips, I am not that good with my photography but would love to learn one day.
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These are some great tips. My wife is really starting getting into taking pics, I will show her this.
Photography is something I always want to improve. Your tips are on point. I cringe when I see photos with craziness going on in the background.
Great post and images. That camera has wonderful features. I also have become further obsessed with photography ever since I got my first DSLR
I have been looking to improve in my own photography so that I can post more nature posts and things outside. I love all of this!
It has been a work in progress for some time now in my photos. Thanks for sharing all of these great tips and this camera.
This looks like such a great camera. I have been saving up to invest in another camera.
These tips are so helpful! I am still trying to increase my photography skills, and I agree familiarity with my camera is what has helped most!
I just did a photo shoot with my daughter and was loving the natural light. I also bought myself a new camera and love it.
I love your way of apprehending the photo. Thank you for these very practical and very basic tips that will serve even professionals, I believe.
Love all of your tips. Great tips indeed. I will definitely apply these tips on my future projects. Excellent camera and a professional photographer can make photos like edited without any editing.
Useful information, especially for the photographers and photography lovers. I am one of those who loves photography and these tips will help me in near future.
Thanks!
Excellent post on how to improve photography. Thank you so much, Lesha!