When you’re getting more into photography, one thing you’ll notice is that the best photo ops are often those sudden, spontaneous situations. Shots you plan can be great, but it’s sometimes obvious that you planned everything beforehand in a quest for the perfect shot, whereas spontaneous shots are full of life and look completely real. But to capture those spontaneous situations, you need to be ready to snap some pictures at a moment’s notice. Here are four important ways that you can be ready for photo ops as soon as they happen.
Get the Right Equipment
No, this isn’t referring to your camera, as this isn’t a camera buying guide and the assumption is that you already have a camera you’re comfortable using. In this case, the right equipment refers to your travel camera bag and camera strap.
A good camera bag is essential for both keeping all your supplies organized and protecting your camera from anything that life throws at it. The camera strap is also for protection. Everyone gets slippery fingers on occasion, but they can lead to a damaged or destroyed camera. A strap keeps your camera close at hand and helps you avoid dropping it.
Keep Your Camera Ready
There’s nothing more frustrating than pulling out your camera for a picture, only to find out that the memory card is full—except maybe when it doesn’t even turn on because you forgot to charge the battery.
It’s good to have spares with both your memory card and your batteries. For your memory card, you should obviously delete pictures once you transfer them to your computer, but it’s also good to reformat the card when you do this. Batteries vary depending on the camera, as some will have traditional batteries and others will have rechargeable lithium batteries. Whichever yours uses, it’s good to have extras around just in case.
Change the Lens Quickly
It’s fun to try different lenses for your camera, and choosing the right lens can have a huge impact on the quality of your pictures. The problem with switching lenses, though, is that every time you do, the sensor is fully exposed to dirt, dust and anything else that happens to be in the air.
This doesn’t mean you should avoid switching your camera’s lens, but when you do, get it done quickly. You definitely shouldn’t be eating a sandwich or having a conversation in between changing your camera lens. When you do it quickly, you minimize what can get on the sensor.
Clean Your Camera Frequently
Your camera will take much clearer pictures when it’s clean, and since it can pick up all kinds of particles, your best bet is to clean your camera frequently. And note that cleaning doesn’t mean rubbing the lens with your shirt a few times.
For the best results, you should purchase lens cleaners and a soft cloth. Every time you plan to use your camera, use these first. It will only take you a few minutes at most, and you’ll end up with better picture. Check your lens cover, as well, because this can accumulate quite a bit of dust and grime. One final trick you can use is dropping a couple silica packets in your camera bag, as these prevent moist air from reaching your camera.
Some of the best photos you’ll take will be those impromptu shots that happened all of a sudden. Make sure you can take them by following the tips above, which will have you ready to pull out your camera and take pictures right away.