Spring break is here and I'm sure you'll want to come home with some Instagram-worthy photos. Here are 11 tips to get you taking professional-looking photos while you're on vacation.
1. Lighting is key
Pay attention to how the light hits your subject. Try to take photos indoors from 11-2 pm because the harsh mid-afternoon light is not that great for your photos. Cloudy weather helps diffuse the light and is ideal for taking pictures. However, the best time to shoot is an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset because these are the "magic" or "golden" hours.
2. Get a unique shot of a popular landmark
A popular landmark probably has 10 thousand photos of it taken from the same angle. Get creative and take a photo of the Big Ben from a different angle.
3. Use the rule of thirds
You can mentally break up your photo into a grid with a left, center, and top side. You should position your subject so it hits one of the grid intersections or is on one side of a section.
4. ...And break the rule of thirds
Don't be afraid to center your subject and have a unique layout.
5. Look at patterns, shapes, and lines
They can be a great background and lead your eye to the subject.
6. Color and style
It goes without saying that color can liven up a photo or a black/white filter can add a certain mood.
7. Get a close-up
8. Use an SLR camera if you can
There is only so much your smartphone can do in terms of image quality. You have more control over your settings when you use an SLR.
9. Tell a story
A seemingly boring photo can tell you much about a moment. For example, a photo of a train ticket next to a train will let the viewer know that you are about to go somewhere.
10. Does it look good to your naked eye?
If it doesn't look good off-camera, it probably won't look good on-camera.
11. Keep snapping!
If your first photo doesn't turn out great, take more. Just keep going until your memory card is full.
