5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography Skills

Usually whenever new and aspiring photographers think of professional photographs, a studio with a lot of expensive photography equipment is the first thing that comes into their minds. Even though some of these expensive equipment are  helpful, they are not necessarily needed. Anyone can capture a head turning photo if you have the patience to take the time to compose a shot can make a huge difference in the result. Here are some simple ways to improve your photography skills.



1. Get in Close - Don't be in a big hurry to take the picture. Always check if there is enough of the subject; if necessary, zoom in. This will also help cut out any distractions around the subject. If you are trying to shoot a landscape then shoot the landscape. If you are trying to take a portrait with a landscape background, remember that the subject is still the person and not the landscape. Zoom in until the subject is dominant.

2. Don't Shoot Randomly - Take pictures of subjects that excite you. You may have to take quite a few pictures to discover what type of photography and subjects interests you. When you finally find your niche in photography, your excitement will reflect in your photos. Professional photographers have spent years photographing different aspects of the same subject. There is an endless supply of landscapes, sunsets, people and flowers. Again, don't waste your time shooting things that do not interest you unless searching for something that does.

3. Composition is the Key - Composition is always the key to have a great photograph. As what the quotes says, “A Picture is worth a Thousand Words”. When you are just beginning, try to keep the horizons straight. Use the viewfinder to crop out distractions. Change the position of the subject to your perspective. Shoot the subject from different angles and viewfinder location; an off-center shot often creates more interest.Don't lose track of what the subject is. If the subject's surroundings are busy and contrasting, use a narrow depth of field to blur the surroundings. This will make the subject really seem to pop out of the picture.

4. Get out from Auto - An interesting way to control the outcome of a photo is using the Manual Mode of your camera. With these, you have the full control of your camera. You can easily change the ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture. Manually controlling the shutter allows you to freeze time or let it go on to reflect motion. This is what allows for a freeze frame shot. A time lapse moment can be captured using a slower shutter speed. My favorite is freezing time at a sporting event and capturing what spectators often do not notice. The point is to experiment with different aperture settings.

5. Know Your Camera - Stick with basic camera settings and functions when you first get started. If you're planning to use the completely automatic settings, you may as well be using a point and shoot camera. Getting frustrated when first learning camera settings is common, but it does get easier with practice. After learning the camera settings thoroughly, it is okay to use one of the semi-automatic settings (auto aperture or auto shutter) and adjust the other manually. To obtain complete power over the outcome of the picture, shoot in manual. Remember, don't be in a hurry; learning how to correctly use a camera takes practice.