Three Tips for Better Photography

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take great pictures of your family and special occasions. Just follow these three easy tips the pros already know and your photos will look great, even with a basic point and shoot camera.

Tip #1: Place the Subject Off-Center in the Frame

Known to the pros as the “Rule of Thirds”, this simple change can make a big difference. The rule of thirds just means dividing the frame into three sections, vertically or horizontally, and placing the subject in one of those sections. By placing the subject of your photo off-center, you can give the subject more of a feeling of being “in the space” or even a sense of movement. Notice the example below.

In this first photo of a rabbit that I took at Biltmore Estate, the rabbit looks very static, like he could just be a statue, frozen. Not very lively, is it?

Look what happens when I moved the subject off-center. Now, the image shows a sense of movement, and you get more of a feeling of the rabbit’s surroundings:

Try this technique the next time you’re photographing something. It’s fun to see what looks best centered and what looks best by employing the rule of thirds.

Tip # 2: Use the Flash Outdoors to Fill In Shadows

The well-named “fill flash technique” simply means using your flash to fill in shadows, even outdoors on a bright, sunny day. I often use this when photographing a flower in a shady garden, or a statue under a large tree.

Here’s an example, from that same trip to Biltmore. When I took a photo of my husband and daughter under a portico, their faces were lost in the brightly lit skyline behind them coupled with the shady roof.

I said, “Freeze! Let me try that again!” I set the camera flash to fire, even though we were outside in the sunshine, and look how much better we can now see their faces.

Tip # 3: Stabilize That Camera!

No matter how gentle you try to be when pressing the shutter-release button, it’s hard not to move the camera just a little. Even the slightest movement can result in “camera shake”, producing a blurry image. Try one of these methods to reduce camera shake:

Use a tripod
Set the camera on a stationary object – a table, car roof, tree stump, etc.
Use the camera’s self-timer feature, if it has one. Hold the camera as still as possible, and when the timer takes the picture, the lack of your pressing the shutter-release button will reduce movement.
If these options aren’t available, try this solid stance: Holding your camera, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, elbows tucked into your ribs. You might be surprised how much more steady you are with this stance, as I was with the example below:

When photographing the beautiful Hilton Head Harbour Town Lighthouse, I took a quick shot without really trying, and produced the fuzzy, headache-inducing image on the left. When I took the time to use the “solid stance” described above, I got the much sharper image on the right.

Are you ready to put these easy tips to use? What will you photograph? Just remember: off-center, fill-flash, and stabilize. Now you’re ready to “shoot” like the pros.

Dawn Cook is the writer, photographer, and one-woman show behind We Call It Junkin.com, a blog inspiring you to create a modern home with a vintage touch. She lives in the midlands of South Carolina with her husband, two daughters, and an ever-increasing pile of junkin’ finds.