How to Take Better Photos

People often ask me what kind of camera I have because I take such nice photos. I often smile and say "Thanks!" and tell them what kind of camera I use. But what I've decided I should start saying is that it's not the camera that makes the photos great! It's the person handling the camera. Before you jump to the conclusion that I'm conceited, let me explain myself.

The reason I bought my DSLR is because I wanted to have more options when I take photos. But you do not have to have an expensive, complicated camera like this to take great everyday photos of your family or fantastic vacation photos, etc. You can easily take great shots that you will treasure forever with your point-and-shoot camera. There are a few things that I recommend for anyone who is looking to take better photos:

1. Learn how to use your camera! Know how it works!
     The worst thing you can do is buy a great camera and only ever use the "auto" function! There's nothing wrong with auto. I even use it on my camera from time to time. Especially when you want to make sure you capture a special moment and don't have time to be playing around with different functions. But if you do have the time, play around with your camera. Even the least expensive digital cameras come with some great options on them now-a-days. Walk around your house and try out the different functions. Learn how to use them. You probably will end up deleting all of the photos you take, but once you learn how to use your camera, you will love the results! And read your manual! I think you will discover that your camera has functions you never even knew were possible. And if you can, turn off that flash!

2. Teach yourself how to "see" a potential photo. MOVE AROUND!
     You don't have to have an "artistic" eye to make beautiful photos. All you have to do is move around and look at the scene you are trying to photograph differently than you normally would.  Get down on the ground by your kids. Stand up on a chair and photograph from above. Get up close and personal. Stand far away. Tilt your camera if you're not worried about a horizon. Off-center your subject. Use different objects as the foreground or background. There are no real rules to follow to take a great photo. With a digital camera, remember - you can delete photos! So take a bunch of the same scene from different angles and pick your favorite. Capture some candids and some with people looking and smiling. Again! Play around with it! The more you practice, the better you'll be! Also, on this note - if your camera has a viewfinder (where you look through the "hole" in the camera instead of looking at the screen on the back) - use it! Turn off that preview on your screen. I can't explain it, but you will be so much happier with your photos. Plus you don't have to squint to look at that tiny screen!

3. Always have a camera on hand.
     I only grab my DSLR when I know I'm going to have time to take photos or there is going to be a special event going on. But I always have my pocket point-and-shoot camera along with me! Or at least my camera phone! If you don't have a camera, you can not take photos. It's as simple as that. And the more photos you take, the better you get. So have that camera at the ready! Don't put it away! :)

4. BE PATIENT
    If you're not at an event where you will miss a special moment if you don't have your finger on the trigger ready to go, take your time and be patient. Wait for that right moment. Set up your shot. Frame the subject. Wait for that stranger to walk out of the shot. You will be happy you did.

Now, that said, I do not claim to be an expert by any means. So I've included some articles by professional photographers at Digital Photography School. Read these if you want some easy tips on how to improve your photos! Some of the articles may be more technical than you need - but take what you can from them! You can also subscribe to a weekly email from this website. It has some great everyday photo tips and challenges. Good luck and happy snapping!

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5 MORE Elements of Composition
Rapid Composition - How to Compose a Photo Quickly
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***The Rule of Thirds***
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Composition: Positioning Yourself
Remove Clutter from your Photography