Top Ten Digital Photography Tips (How to take the Perfect Shot)

Sep 11, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Oct 23, 2020

Using these tips, you will be able to take the best picture. Just follow my lead.

Tips

1. Use the Rule of Thirds

To use the rule of thirds, imagine four lines, two lyings horizontally across the image and two vertical creating nine even squares. Some images will look best with the focal point in the center square, but placing the subject off-center at one of the intersecting points of the imaginary lines will often create a more aesthetically composed photograph. When a photograph is composed using the rule of thirds the eyes will wander the frame. A picture composed using the rule of thirds is usually more pleasing to the eye.

2. Avoid Camera Shake

Camera shake or blur is something that can plague any photographer and here are some ways to avoid it. First, you need to learn how to hold your camera correctly; use both hands, one around the body and one around the lens and hold the camera close to your body for support.

3. Learn to use the Exposure Triangle

To get your photos looking their best, you need to master the three basics: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. You also need to understand the relationships between these three controls. When you adjust one of them, you would usually have to consider at least one of the others, to get the desired results.

4. Use a Polarizing Filter

This filter helps reduce reflections from water as well as metal and glass; it improves the colors of the sky and foliage and will help give your photos the WOW factor. It will do all that while protecting your lens. There’s no reason why you can’t leave it on for all of your photography. Whether on a phone or a camera pick the filter that works best and whichever one that looks natural.

5. Create a Sense of Depth

Use a wide-angle lens for a panoramic view and a small aperture of f/16 or smaller to keep the foreground and background sharp. Placing an object or person in the foreground helps give a sense of scale and emphasizes how far away the distance is. If needed try using a tripod or anything that will hold your device/camera.

6. Use Simple Backgrounds

If possible, choose a plain background – in other words, neutral colors and simple patterns. You want the eye to be drawn to the focal point of the image rather than a patch of color or an odd building in the background. This is especially vital in a shot where the model is placed off-center. After all, you don't want the background that looks better than the model.

7. Don't Use Flash Indoors

Flash can look harsh and unnatural especially for indoor portraits. Therefore, there are various ways you can take an image indoors without resorting to flash. Remember to blur the background just in case.

8. Pan to Create Motion

If you want to capture a subject in motion, then use the panning technique. To do this, choose a shutter speed around two steps lower than necessary – so for 1/250, we’d choose 1/60. Keep your camera on the subject with your finger halfway down on the shutter to lock the focus and when ready, take the photo, remembering to follow them as they move.

9. Experiment with Shutter Speed

To be honest, playing around with the effects is cool. Nothing is wrong with doing that. When taking a night time shot, use a tripod, and try shooting with the shutter speed set at 4 seconds. You will see that the movement of the object is captured along with some light trails. If you choose a faster shutter speed of say 1/250th of a second, the trails will not be as long or bright; instead, you will freeze the action.

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