Whether you're a newbie to photography or just want a refresher, and whether you're taking your photos on a professional camera or an iPhone, these are some great tips for taking higher quality and more aesthetically pleasing photos. I've been practicing photography for awhile and I believe I have an eye for it. Photography is so fun when you know the basics and let your creativity take over!
1. Look for inspiration in unusual places.
You never know where your inspiration will come from, so keep your eyes out no matter where you are. See a wall with a cool quote written on it? Snap a picture! It could turn out cooler than you think.
I thought this picture turned out to look really cool even though it's literally just a picture of my laptop sitting in my dorm.
2. Mess around with angles.
Don't just take one photo head-on and have confidence that it will turn out perfectly. Take a few, exploring different lower or higher angles. Some of the most interesting photos aren't taken straight on.
My cousin snapped the above picture by looking up at the sky and seeing the way the tree looked interesting against it.
3. Try both flash and no flash.
...Even if it seems obvious that you should use flash. Sometimes the flash can ruin a picture, even if it's darker.
Flash would ruin this beautiful sunset picture I took in my hometown.
4. Think about framing.
Sometimes it makes sense to take a panoramic or a picture from farther away if you need to capture a large amount of space, but sometimes it makes sense to get close and really focus in on one thing. Also, if you see something that's already pretty or intriguing, framing it with a window or something of the sort can really add even more to it.
5. Use the Rule of Thirds.
This rule is so underrated and so important. It just means that if there is one object that stands out (like the sun in a sunset, or a single person) make sure it or they aren't smack in the middle of the frame, but to one side. It looks so much better.
Notice how the focal point (the chapel) is off-center.
6. Layer, layer, layer.
Having three different layers in a photo creates an interesting and aesthetically pleasing photo.
The first layer is the house, the second is the mountain, and the third is the sky.
7. Think: what is different?
Find something unique or cool no matter where you are.
Mirrors of any kind can make for some really interesting shots.
8. Blur the background, focus on one thing.
This creates simple and beautiful photos. Super easy to do if you only have a small object like a flower to focus on!
You can really see all the details of the flower when it's not competing with the background.
9. Don't be afraid to use filters.
This is your creation, so do what you want with the coloring. Just be careful, because over-filtering can lead to the photo looking really fake and losing some of its beauty. However, a little bit of filter can go a long way.
10. Do photoshoots with friends.
Even if you don't think you're good at it, it will be more fun than you think and you could learn a lot. In the moment, I'm sure you'll be inspired and take some cool shots!
(Shoutout to Lindsay for being gorgeous.)
