When it comes to professional photography, it is not only clicking the camera shutter. It’s a creative task that needs skills and techniques. But at the same time, if you don’t follow some primary rules, your skills may not help. A small mistake is enough to ruin a masterpiece.
Do you want to know what those primary rules are? Aren’t you curious to find out what mistakes you have been making till now? I’m sure you are. This article will tell you about ten essential things about photography, which are often overlooked.
Beginner or experienced, all photographers should know about these things. So don’t take it as time-wasting. Just carry on reading, and in the end, you won’t regret it.
What Should I Know About Photography?
Photography is a form of art. A single photo can voice out a thousand words that the photographer wants to convey. And it’s not something that can be done without following proper rules.
Yes, you may get some good fluke shots without even trying. But you can’t expect the fluke to happen all time.
Also, many photographers think they can fix everything after the photoshoot by numerous image editing services. That’s not the right concept. Why fix it later when you can do it during the photoshoot?
Let’s know the facts that will help you to conquer good shots in every click.
1. Know Your Camera
If I say that a considerable number of photographers are not familiar with their camera, will you believe me? Probably not. But it’s a fact. They either shoot in the manual mode or the aperture priority mode, letting the camera do the thinking on their behalf.
Don’t be like them. Knowing your camera is the first thing you should do. Learn about the modes, the settings, everything about the camera. It may take time, but the outcome is fantastic. (Learn Here: Best 4 Lightest Full Frame Camera and setting details)
2. Start with Clicking RAW
Clicking RAW images, in the beginning, is the best thing to do. RAW is a file format like jpg, jpeg but with extra benefits. This format captures all data without compressing them. So, you get the initial exposure, light, white balance, not the processed ones. And it gives you a more flexible opportunity to adjust the elements according to your wish.
But this file takes up more space and needs highly editing. If you have time and storage, go for this one.
3. Get the Necessary Equipment
The camera isn’t the only thing that you need for photography. Yes, it’s the leading equipment, but it needs accessories to perform well. A tripod for keeping the camera still, multiple lenses, flashlight, reflector, shutter, all are equally important for clicking a nice shot.
As a beginner, you don’t have to buy all equipment, but yes, try to get the mandatory ones like a tripod and lens.
4. Know About Lens and Focus
Using the right lens for photography is essential. For example, wide-angle lenses are great for landscape photography. Lenses with 50-100mm focal length serve the best for portrait photography. You need to know the lens, their focal length, and for which purpose they perform best.
Focusing on the object during the shoot is also essential. Properly adjusting the focus can change the image up to a great extent.
5. Understand Exposure
Adjusting the exposure is undoubtedly one of the most important things. Three camera settings- aperture, ISO, and shutter speed controls the exposure. In union, they make sure that the photo has the perfect amount of brightness.
In simple words, exposure means brightness. How bright you want the photo to be is the exposure. If the image is lighter than your expectation, it’s overexposed, and if it’s less bright, it’s underexposed. Understand the exposure and set it according to your preference.
6. Handle the Lighting
If you are a photographer, you need to know how to handle the light during a photoshoot. Natural light can be a good option. But remember, harsh sunlight can ruin your picture. So, if you are doing an outdoor photoshoot in natural light, pick the right time of the day. Or maybe find a place where the light is balanced.
External flashlights are a lifesaver for internal photography. But it only works when you know how much light you should use. You can only master this by time and experience. So have patience and keep shooting. Also, restrain from using the internal flash of the camera. It just spoils the picture.
7. Fix aperture
Aperture refers to the starting of the lens through which light passes and lits the photo. It’s generally written as f/number (1.4,2,2.8, etc.) in the lens. The small the number, the more the exposure is because lower numbers mean larger apertures.
You need to be sure which aperture will be perfect for your shoot. A narrow one can make the photo less bright but can ensure the depth of the field. On the other hand, the broader aperture thought makes the image bright; it can destroy the depth.
8. Play with the Perspective
If you want to create something creative, there’s no alternative but to play with the perspective. Just like all humans have different views, make your picture unique too with an unusual perspective.
Change the angle, try shooting from a different side, go on a different level, or anything else. Do whatever you can to bring out the most beautiful sight.
Sometimes, we can’t say which angle or direction will look best for a picture. In that case, experimenting is the only option.
9. Be Creative with Composition
Everything around us has its composition. If you are working with props, put them in an order that will make them cook unique and stunning at the same time. The shape, color, light, everything matters when it comes to composition. It has a broader range than perspective.
You can find many rules about composition which are truly helpful. But I would suggest you go with your idea. As a photographer, you should know better in which position your model will look best. Just be confident and go for the shot.
10. Post Production
There are two groups of photographers. One group thinks that post-production or image editing makes the photo fake and unreal, and the other group thinks image editing is essential.
Well, both are correct. Post-production image editing helps to adjust the defective part of an image. But sometimes, over-editing destroys the natural charm.
So, post-production is something that should be done by experts. If you are confident enough, do the editing yourself. Else hire skilled and renowned image editing service providers like Clipping Path CA.
Final Words
Though it may seem easy to capture a moment in the camera by clicking the shutter, in real, a photographer has to be careful about a lot of things to present the best photo. As a beginner, those rules and regulations can be a little tough for you. That’s why we have picked ten essential things that you should follow to become a better photographer.
Hopefully, the article was helpful for you.
Meta:
Are you struggling to click beautiful photos even with advanced equipment? Probably you have been missing out on the basic rules. Read the article and know about the things you should learn about photography.
