Photography is an amazing way to share personal perspectives, and it is a great excuse to get out into the world. Finding that perfect shot is difficult and time-consuming, but it is worth the wait. I am only an amateur photographer, but I have discovered these nine tips to help elevate your photography skills. It is important to note most of these apply more for a DSLR camera than a smartphone camera.

1. Aperture

The aperture, also known as the f-stops, determines how much light is let into the camera lens. The aspect that trips most people up is the fact that a small f-stop, F/2.8, lets in more light than a large f-stop, F/22. The amount of light you let into the lens will determine how much light gets through which, in part, affects the exposure of the image. The Aperture also impacts the depth of field.

2. Depth of field

The depth of field refers to how much of the subject is in focus in the image. A deep depth of field, when most of the subject and background are in focus, is achieved by a large f-stop, which makes the lens opening smaller. This may seem opposite of what you would think, but actually letting in only a small amount of light means background or far away subjects will not be washed out and distorted by incoming light. Therefore, for a shallow depth of field, you want a small f-stop, which makes the lens opening bigger, to highlight the subject more clearly and create a fuzzy background.

3. Shutter speed

The other aspect of taking a photo that impacts the exposure is the shutter speed. This refers to the speed or amount of time the shutter, which is the lens portion that opens to take photos, is open. The shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second, so a fast shutter speed, like 1/125, is good for scenes with a lot of light or moving objects. A slower shutter speed is good for scenes without a lot of light. The aperture and shutter speed of the camera dictate how much light is let into the lens, therefore it dictates the exposure of the subject.

4. ISO

The ISO (also known as the ASA) determines how sensitive to light the image sensor is. A lower ISO means the sensor is less sensitive to light, so on a bright sunny day, an ISO of 100 or 200 is ideal. However, on an overcast day, an ISO of 400 works better because it is more sensitive to light, and at night, an ISO of 1000 or higher may be ideal because there is significantly less light. This is important because if the camera is too sensitive to light the image becomes grainy, while a good ISO will create a crisp shot.

5. Rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is a framing technique for photos. A lot of cameras can give an actual grid, but when thinking about the rule of thirds consider dividing the subject into a 3x3 grid. Photos often become more engaging when the subject is not smack-dab in the middle of the photo. If it is off to one side, or above or below the median of the grid, it can create a more dynamic shot. It also allows for the creation of negative space, the background that is not the main subject, which adds dimension and depth to a photo.

6. Tripod

If you want to take a long exposure or are shooting in low light, having a tripod is a must. A long exposure means the shutter speed is decreased, leaving the shutter open for a longer period of time. This also allows for shaky images. It is often recommended that at a shutter speed below 1/60 or 1/50 will be too long for a person to be able to take a clear shot. Our bodies naturally vibrate and move, so having a tripod will allow you to take those long exposed shots, which include night photography.

7. Light Meter

This is a feature on most DSLR cameras that comes from old film cameras. It is a meter found on the screen that shows the exposure level. Ideally, for a good exposure, you want the light meter to be at zero. If you use this as you change the aperture and shutter speed, it will help you find that good exposure quicker, but it is still good to test shots to see if you want a little under or overexposure.

8. Lighting

It is always important to consider where your light is coming from, how much light you have, whether it is natural, thus changing light, and if you need more artificial light. If your subject, especially a person, is backlit, so the light is behind them and facing you, it may wash out your subject. If the light is coming from a strange angle, it may create shadows you do not want. Considering the lighting of a subject is very important for any photo shoot, especially if it is a landscape and you are going to lose light in an hour.

9. An adventurous spirit

While this is relative to the person, being excited and motivated to go out to new places is vital to a good photo shoot. Finding new places to shoot or new people to shoot will keep it fun. If you are always going to the same park, it may be hard to find inspiration. Even if it is just going at a different time or changing up the people, you can change the feeling of the photo and find new ways to shoot the same place.