Photography Basics: How to Take Good Photos

Izzy Schrock
Convergence Editor

Photo of Tara Huberty.
All photos in this article by Izzy Schrock.

With the constant advance of technology and social media, more and more people are getting into photography. Whether you want your Instagram pictures to look good or are interested in a career in photography, here’s some basics and tips that can take your pictures to the next level.

                 Know Your Camera

            The first step to great photos is knowing your camera. Whether you are working with a smartphone, point-and-shoot, or DSLR, reading the instruction manual and understanding the controls are important. DSLR means digital single-lens reflex camera, which is the most advanced and largest camera. Photography and art teacher Anne Otte recommends carrying your camera with you everywhere and taking pictures in all sorts of situations.

 “If you have a high quality smart phone, you don’t need a point-and-shoot. Smart phones are great for taking taking photos. There’s actually a population of photographers that are smartphone-only,” said Otte. A great resource to learn about photography is digital-photography-school.com.

Composition and Light

“Lighting plays a huge factor in photos, the rule of thirds can help a lot too, depending on the photography you’re doing,” said Otte. Lots of light improves the quality of the photo and lets the subject be clearly visible, but too much can wash out the photo. Overcast weather or shade is best for portraits so that your subject isn’t squinting or in harsh light, which can be very unattractive.

Background

Backgrounds can make or break a picture. Be aware of everything in frame and make sure there aren’t any stray items, crooked objects, or brightly colored distractions that would take away from your subject. As an amateur, it’s best to find locations that won’t be distracting like a brick wall, architecture, open field, or forest. “Those can be backdrops that you don’t have to buy,” said Otte. Be careful that your subject’s outfit pattern doesn’t clash with the background.

People

Taking photos takes a lot of people skills- your job is to make your subject feel relaxed, natural, and bring out their personality. Creating a good client base can be as simple as social media and word of mouth. Have the person you are photographing wear what they are most comfortable in that shows their personality. The goal is to highlight their personality, not change it. Have your subject relax their body, keep good posture, and give good emotions. Some of the best pictures can be candid, meaning you caught them unexpectedly in a laugh or playful smirk. Try to incorporate elements of their lives like a signature hat, uniform, or hobby.

Photo of Holly Hemann.

                             Editing

Not everyone can afford expensive editing programs like Photoshop or Lightroom. Instead, try pixlr.com or picmonkey.com. “[Pixlr] is very similar to photoshop. You can download it as an app as well,” said Otte. While making small edits can improve the look of the photo, a lot of editing can cheapen the look your photo. “Sometimes less is more. Too much [editing] can ruin the atmosphere of your picture,” said Otte. The biggest thing Otte uses editing programs for is to switch from color to black and white.

                           Locations

Knowing local locations are important for photographing, especially if you don’t have a professional studio. Below is a list of various places with photo potential.

Thomas Mitchell Park

4250 NE 108th St, Mitchellville, IA 50169

Downtown Des Moines

Capitol and East Village Areas