My go-to photography blog, Petapixel, recently released an article titled 40 Tips to Take Better Photos. There are lots of great gems in there. I’ve reduced the list down to 10 of my favorites.
Shoot every day
The best way to hone your skills is to practice. A lot. Shoot as much as you can – it doesn’t really matter what. Spend hours and hours behind your camera. As your technical skills improve over time, your ability to harness them to tell stories and should too. Don’t worry too much about shooting a certain way to begin with. Experiment. Your style – your ‘voice’ – will emerge in time. And it will be more authentic when it does. — Leah Robertson
See the light
Before you raise your camera, see where the light is coming from, and use it to your advantage. Whether it is natural light coming from the sun, or an artificial source like a lamp; how can you use it to make your photos better? How is the light interacting with the scene and the subject? Is it highlighting an area or casting interesting shadows? These are all things you can utilise to make an ordinary photo extraordinary.
Buy books, not gear
Having expensive camera equipment doesn’t always mean that you’ll take good photos. I’ve seen some absolutely amazing images shot with nothing more than a smart phone. Instead of having ten different lenses, invest in some fantastic photography books. By looking at the work of the masters, not only do you get inspired, you come away with ideas to improve your own photos.
Slow down
Take time to think about what is going on in the viewfinder before pressing the shutter. How are you going to compose the shot? How are you going to light it? Don’t jump straight in without giving it some thought first. — Brad Marsellos
Shutter speed
Being aware of your shutter speed means the difference between taking a blurry photo and a sharp photo. It all depends on what you are after. If you are shooting a sporting event or children running around in the backyard, you probably want your subjects to be in focus. To capture fast action you will have to use a shutter speed over 1/500th of a second, if not 1/1000th to 1/2000th.
Keep it simple
Don’t try to pack too many elements into your image; it will just end up looking messy. If you just include one or two points of interest, your audience won’t be confused at where they should be looking or what they should be looking at.
Be aware of backgrounds
What’s in your frame? So often I see great photos and think “didn’t they see that garbage bin, ugly wall, sign, etc?” It’s not just the person or object in your frame, it’s everything else in the background that can make or break a great photograph. So don’t be afraid to ask the person to move (or move yourself) to avoid something ugly in the background. — Marina Dot Perkins
Hold your camera properly
You might not know it, but there is a right way and a wrong way to hold a DSLR camera. The correct way is to support the lens by cupping your hand underneath it. This is usually done with the left hand, with your right hand gripping the body of the camera. This helps to prevent camera shake. If you are gripping your camera with your hands on either side of the camera body, there is nothing supporting the lens, and you might end up with blurry photos. To get an even stabler stance, tuck your elbows into the side of your body.
Inspiration from all forms
Take in as much photography as you can – online, and in books and magazines. But not passively. Look at different styles. Work out what you like or don’t like about them. Look at the technical elements of pictures and think about how they were made, and what the photographer is trying to say. The more you take in, the more arsenal you’ll have when creating your own work. — Leah Robertson
Be patient and persevere
With time, patience, and perseverance, you will get better; with each and every photo you take.
Over the years, I’ve been following a number of photographers who each have their own distinct style. What I mean by this is that when you see a photograph, you know it was taken by one of them. That’s one of the ultimate goals, isn’t it? To stand out from the crowd, to be unique, to have your own voice. Lately, I’ve taken a keen interest in wedding and family photography, mostly because I can connect with feelings associated with them – being a bride and a mom. Seeing brides and grooms on one of the happiest days of their lives makes my heart sing. (Sorry that was a little bit cheesy.) Being a mother I know how quickly babies can grow into kids so I’m excited when I get to capture their fleeting moments. I love seeing their countless expressions, from over-the-moon glee to uncontrollable sorrow.
The eight photographers in this post aren’t family or wedding photographers (except for Max Wanger). However, they’re photographers who’ve made a big impact on me by making me fall in with the whole genre of photography. While some are masters at creating whimsical scenes (Annie Leibovitz, Rodney Smith, Tim Walker) others are incredible at capturing the perfect moment (Henri Cartier-Bresson and Elliot Erwitt). Below one of their photographs, I’ve added in some quotes by them. If anything, I hope you come away with this post inspired.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
He was one of the most accomplished and influential photographers of the 20th century; he was the acknowledged ‘master of the moment’, and many of his images are masterpieces of photographic history.
“To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart.”
“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”
“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.”
“Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera.”
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.”
“You just have to live and life will give you pictures.”
“Of course it’s all luck.”
Tim Walker
He is a British fashion photographer, who regularly shoots for Vogue and W Magazine. He’s known for his whimsical sets. Think Annie Leibovitz in male form.
“Only photograph what you love.”
“It is very difficult to make the ideas in my head come to life, but what is harder is making them look effortless.”
“Storytelling – fanciful storytelling – can only be told through fashion photography. It’s the perfect way to play with fantasy and dreams.”
“Looking back at my earlier pictures, I think that the work is very much coming from the same place. I have gone through a period of challenging myself with a complicated idea to currently challenging myself with the idea of simplicity.”
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer known for her elaborate sets.
“A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.”
“The camera makes you forget you’re there. It’s not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much.”
“If I didn’t have my camera to remind me constantly, I am here to do this, I would eventually have slipped away, I think. I would have forgotten my reason to exist.”
Rodney Smith
With an illustrious career spanning over 45 years, New York-based photographer Rodney Smith has produced countless images that are a perfect blend of style and sophistication. The man is a genius at composition.
“People use the terminology ‘He’s a commercial photographer, he’s a fine art photographer, he’s a landscape photographer.’ I think it’s hard enough just to be a photographer. I think that in using the term ‘photographer’ one should be very careful about what that really means. I grew up in a tradition where being a photographer was a very noble pursuit. You pursued it for the love and the passion, and doing it was a very difficult thing to do. There are thousands and thousands of people who take photographs, but very few photographers, because one has to have an eye, one has to have the vision, one has to have something to say.”
“Many people believe that one is born with talent and some people have it and some people don’t. I actually don’t believe that. I believe that everyone has the ability; because everyone is a human being and everyone has feelings. If they are able to express those feelings, than that is part of their talent.”
Steve McCurry
Steve McCurry, recognized universally as one of today’s finest photographers, is best known for his evocative color photography.
“Most of my photos are grounded in people, I look for the unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person’s face.”
“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.”
“The photograph is an undeniably powerful medium. Free from the constraints of language, and harnessing the unique qualities of a single moment frozen in time.”
Martin Schoeller
As a staff photographer at The New Yorker for more than a decade, Martin Schoeller captured a wide range of famous characters, from President Barack Obama and Lady Gaga to the skateboarder Tony Hawk.
“Don’t think you have a Vanity Fair cover and you’re done; you’re only as good as your last photograph.”
“I think the best way to describe it is a certain moment of intimacy, of vulnerability, that I’m striving to capture.”
Elliott Erwitt
Elliott Erwitt is an advertising and documentary photographer known for his black and white candid shots of ironic and absurd situations within everyday settings— a master of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment”.
“All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.”
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
“I appreciate simplicity, true beauty that lasts over time, and a little wit and eclecticism that make life more fun.”
Max Wanger
Max Wanger is a Los Angeles-based photography known for his simplicity and use of negative space.
“What makes photography interesting is that almost all photographers are unique. It’s very rare that two people are able to share the same moment from the same perspective. I guess that means my pictures are unique simply because I am who I am wherever I happen to be. Eyes (and shutter) open, of course.”
“Love what you photograph. if you love what you shoot, it comes across in your images. Also, scour books and magazines. And study composition.”
I was looking for some inspiration on family photography when I came across Tara Whitney’sThen and Now series. With her repeat clients, the photographer takes pictures of a mother pregnant or a couple with their young children and then fasts forwards us to when the baby is born or when the children are older. Love seeing the progression of time.
2009 – Then
2013 – Now
2009 – Then
2011 – Now
It’s nice to see that though the couples may have aged, their free spirits stay the same.
Luisa Dunn is a Brisbane, Australia-based photographer who’s behind the photo series Rainbow Babies. Created for families that have suffered a loss due to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth, Dunn takes sweet photos of the couple’s next child, the miracle that appears after the tragedy.
As she describes on her website:
“A Rainbow baby is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravage of the storm. When a rainbow appears it does not mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with it’s aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds.”
Dunn hopes that the Rainbow Baby sessions help initiate discussion of the sensitive but important topic of infant loss. She offers one free gift session per month to a selected family. In the photos you’ll see, beautifully delicate newborn babies lay peacefully while wrapped in or surrounded by a rainbow of colored cloth.
Lately, I’ve been daydreaming about the type of photographer I’d like to be and I even went so far as to look over all of my photos to find some common themes. Then, I thought back to the photographers I’d written about on My Modern Met, the ones that stood out to me so much that they compelled me to share their images with the world. One of the photographers that came to mind was Japan-based Hideaki Hamada, who takes a mix between heartwarming and classic photos of his two sons, Haru and Mina. (Here’s my post about them from back in 2011.) Using only natural light, he captures fleeting moments that harken back to childhood. Not only do you get a feeling that you’re getting to know his two sweet sons, you’re taken back to your own childhood and the carefree feelings that come with it.
Here’s what Hamada told Rangfinder when he was asked how he captures such candid moments:
“When I look at my children, I have a strange feeling, as if I am watching myself reliving my life. What I want to show is their ‘living form.’ Children always act more than I expect, and the inspiration for my photography comes from this sort of behavior. When I take photos of my children, the important thing is to maintain an objective perspective; not too close, but also not too far away, as if I am watching them from behind—something close to mere observation, I think. This gives the photos a universal quality, and I believe this is necessary to communicate their living forms to someone else.”
I especially like this part: “not too close, but also not too far away, as if I am watching them from behind—something close to mere observation.”
Now that my own two sons are getting older (Parker is four and Logan is two), I’d like to start taking photos of their childhood in this vein. Of course, I wouldn’t copy Hamada’s style, rather, I’d take inspiration from it. I love how he captures his sons staring off into the distance, taking in the moment. Or the startled look on one of his son’s face as they peek out of a gate. I love the simple backgrounds, the different angles.
My day just got better. I’ve followed Roeselien Raimond for awhile, the way she captures the carefree spirit of red foxes is unlike any other wildlife photographer. My Modern Met conducted an interview with Raimond in September last year about her Zen Foxes series. I just checked out her 500px and her Fine Art America page and noticed that she’s captured her favorite subject kissing each other. Many of the pictures are titled “Foxy Love Series” and show a mom with her kit, showing affection and love. How does your heart not warm up when you see photos like this?
Outside of the National Geographic photo competitions, the Sony World Photography Awards is the best at bringing to the forefront the world’s most talented photographers. Did you know that it’s the world’s largest photography competition? It receives an astounding number of entries, this year it was a record-breaking 230,103 from 186 countries, that’s up 33% from last year. Since its launch in 2007, they’ve surpassed 1 million entries, which makes them one of the most influential photography competitions in the world.
The shortlisted images have just been announced, and boy, are the photos spectacular. I sorted through all of their main categories – Professional, Open and Youth, and brought together 30 of my favorites. Though there was a “Highlights” package I could have just presented, instead I wanted to look at each shortlisted photo to find the most spellbinding, the ones that give us a new way to look at life. From a mother cheetah protecting her cubs to a father cleansing his son’s skin, enjoy these beautiful moments of the world around us.
The overall winner of the awards will be announced on April 21, 2016. Can’t wait!
Image Name: Cuba Beach/Reuters
Image Description: People swim at the sea in Havana, April 28, 2015. On Sunday, Cuba registered a temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, 0.1 degrees less than the island’s historic record, according to Jose Rubiera, Director of the National Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba.Copyright: � Alexandre Meneghini, Brazil, Shortlist, Open, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards
I want to become a photographer. There, I’ve said it. After curating art, design and photography for the last seven years, I have this burning desire to now take on a creative profession. What kind of photographer do I want to be? Not sure yet. Sure running a “lifestyle” blog is fun but it’s not fulfilling enough for me. I’m leaning towards “family-style” photography but not the kind where the everyone’s dressed up in white shirts and blue jeans and they’re stiffly posing on the beach. I’m talking Kate T. Parker, Elena Shumilova, Hideaki Hamada, and Aya Sakai.
Like many people, I often take out my iPhone to snap shots rather than lug around my heavy DSLR. Sure the iPhone can take great pics but there’s always something to be desired. That’s why I’ve made it my goal to really learn more about my camera (Canon 5D Mark II) and I’ve decided to teach myself post processing software, that is Adobe Lightroom. I have an older version (Lightroom 4) but it’s all that I need to edit my shots.
So far, I’ve learned Lightroom from two sources, Skillshare and two books I bought on Amazon from the same author, Tony Northrup. The first one is called How to Create Stunning Digital Photography and the second is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Video Book: Training for Photographers. What I love about these books is that if you buy the Kindle versions (which go for $9.99), there are links to really informative videos. Tony, along with his wife Chelsea, give great tips on everything from how to use your camera to how to set up a good portrait shot. If you don’t want to commit to buying the books, just yet, you can first check out their YouTube channel.
Here’s my Lightroom grid and then here are some side-by-side before and after Lightroom shots.
I know I’ve got a long way to go before I can even begin to think of myself as a “real” photographer, but this is the first time, in a long time, that I’ve been this excited about anything.
Back in November 2013, I wrote about a beautiful photo series called One Day Young, emotional portraits of mothers holding their one-day-old babies. Photographer Jenny Lewis, a mother of two herself, came up with the idea. She aimed to change the perception of childbirth from something that produced fear and anxiety to one that would strengthen and inspire women.
A new documentary has just been released that goes one-on-one with Lewis. In it we learn that rather than taking inspiration from other photographs, Lewis took on a “painterly point of view.” She formed her compositions from paintings she studied in “A-level art history.” In 2015, Lewis was invited by WaterAid to take the project to Malawi to show the challenges mothers there face. It was a stunning take on her current series.
What’s next for Lewis? “I don’t think that’s the end of the journey for One Day Young. I don’t know what is next, but I’m sure there’ll be another moment to explore,” she states.
Watch the inspirational documentary, below. This project takes me back to the moment I got to hold Parker and Logan for the very first time. What a rush and a thrill.
I’ve always loved quirky street photos that have been taken at the right place and at the right time. There’s also a hidden story that’s up to you find. Vienna-born photographer Robert Rutöd has a photo book called Right Time Right Place that shows the world with a skewed lens. Wandering through Europe for a few years, Rutöd took strange and sometimes surreal photos of people and animals in unordinary circumstances. A helpless swan finds itself frozen in a vast stretch of ice while a young girl reaches for the sky to touch flowers hanging high above her.
Right Time Right Place is a collection of photographs I made in the last few years on my travels through Europe. The images revolve around the question of whether it is possible for a person to be in the right place at the right time. Is the ideal state of space and time something we are awarded or is it a state we have long been living in without being aware of our good fortune? I hope I have not succeeded in answering this question. Nothing fails more pathetically than an artist’s attempt to explain the world and its relationships. Rather, my work leads to the conclusion that the world cannot be explained. Once an exhibition visitor in New York told me that, when viewing my photos, she felt that the protagonists seemed to be kind of disobedient. I really liked that interpretation.
Right Time Right Place received several awards including the New York Photo Award, the Special Prize of the Czech Center of Photography, and most recently Artist of the Year at Dong Gang International Photo Festival 2015 in South Korea.You can buy Rutöd’s photo book on his website.
Hello, I’m Alice Yoo! I’m founder and CEO of Skylar Yoo, a company dedicated to inspiring and empowering women to be bold. We sell apparel, art prints and accessories to the modern feminist.
In my former life, I was editor-in-chief of the art and culture blog My Modern Met, which I founded back in 2007. I curated and wrote about art, design and photography for more than seven years. (In fact, I published over 7,000 articles which were seen by millions of people worldwide.) I’m also co-author of a book called For Love: 25 Heartwarming Celebrations of Humanity, which is on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
I live in southern California along with my husband and my two toddler boys.
This blog is about what I love, the tough experiences that I’ve learned from, and my journey as a second time entrepreneur. Right now, I’m in the midst of a 365 day challenge, to read one book a day. If you share my passions or want to learn some cool new facts, come along for the ride. I hope to inspire, educate and entertain you!
