5 Simply Photography Tips for Beginners

Whether you’re a pro or just enjoy taking casual photos of your friends and family, these five photography tips will give your photos more depth and dimension. I personally shoot a lot of street, landscape, and product photography, and I apply these strategies to everything I do.

1. Think in 3’s

This filmmaking concept can significantly enhance your photography by thinking in terms of beginning, middle, and end, applied to both time and space.

Time:

  • Beginning: Capture shots of the start of your journey, like an incoming train, a taxi, or even your breakfast.
  • Middle: Get the main shots you planned.
  • End: Capture the end of your journey, such as sunset or blue hour shots.

Space:

  • Wide Shot: Use a 24mm lens to show the environment and establish the scene.
  • Medium Shot: Use a 35mm or 50mm lens for the main subject, providing the core of your story.
  • Tight Shot: Use an 85mm lens for close-up details and textures.

Including these variations creates a more engaging and storytelling set of photos. I also like to include shots of myself using the camera to give viewers context about the photographer and the gear used. Links to recommended cameras and lenses are in the video description.

2. Add Layers & Veils

Adding elements of mystery and intrigue to your composition can make your shots more interesting. You can achieve this by shooting through various objects like windows, doors, fences, or even foliage.

If there’s nothing to shoot through, improvise with items like a glass, a plant, your phone, or even your fingers. Experiment and get creative.

3. Bokeh or Nokeh

Many beginners shoot everything at a fast aperture like f/2.8 to achieve a blurred background (bokeh). While bokeh is beautiful, it’s important to recognize when to stop down your aperture.

For scenes with multiple elements, like cityscapes, landscapes, or group portraits, a smaller aperture (f/4 or f/8) ensures everything is in focus. Evaluate the importance of the background before deciding to blur it out.

There’s also an inexpensive software called Vibrance that can animate your still images, enhancing your photos for online sharing. Check it out in this clip:

4. Larger Than Life

Capturing the grandeur of large subjects can be challenging. To convey the size and impact of a scene, include a reference object or person in your shot. This provides scale and context, making the scene more relatable and awe-inspiring. For everyday scenarios, use familiar objects to provide a size reference, like your hand or a shoe next to a large frog.

5. Invisible Camera

When photographing people, their behavior changes if they know they’re being photographed. To capture natural moments, set up your camera on a tripod and use zone focusing. Then, use your smartphone to control the camera remotely. This makes people less self-conscious and allows for candid shots.

Most camera manufacturers offer free apps for remote control, and having a good tripod is essential. I recommend tripods with clamps over twist locks for efficiency.

My favorite tripods are from Benro and Neewer, both affordably priced.

Editing Matters Too

Using these techniques will help you create stunning images, but remember that editing also plays a significant role. Luminar Neo (get 10% your purchase using the “fulaan10” coupon code) and Adobe Lightroom are great choices for photo editing.

Got the tips but still searching for a camera? Then check out my suggestions for cameras:

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