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These days they say “everyone is a photographer” and sometimes people ask me if I feel threatened by that – not really! I think it’s vital that we all have good photos with family and friends. I was just looking at some of the photos in my personal photography archive from ten years ago (when I started out as a professional) and thinking how happy I was to have those memories preserved. Photography can be a fun and challenging hobby, and many of my clients ask me questions about how to get the best photos! It can sometimes be difficult to get the shots that you want, especially when working outdoors. The lighting isn’t always great outside, the weather may go bad, and the scenery could also not measure up quite as much as you had hoped. However, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can follow in order to take amazing outdoor photos every time. Keep these things in mind to help you get started.
Working with Sunlight
The most common type of outdoor lighting is obviously sunlight. But it can be difficult to get the perfectly sunlit image, because of the unpredictability of weather. If the sun is too bright on your subject, then the simplest solution is to find a shaded area near you. To minimize lens flare, take the picture while you are standing in the shaded area, or have your subject stand in the shade so you will be able to capture the best lighting effects on your subject. Is your hobby getting more serious? If you want more control of your light, you can also invest in some reflector and diffuser panels. These will allow you to add more soft light without having to move from your preferred location or use a flash.
Use Your Surroundings
If you’re in an area such as in a city block that’s not too aesthetically pleasing, you may not think you can capture nice looking shots. However, if you look around, you can find the right backdrop in any setting. For example, you may not want to use an entire rundown building for your background, but there may be some parts of it that you can use for an artistic touch. Look for nice textures, interesting colours, or geometric shapes then crop in close.
Cultivate the Perfect Grounds
If you are lucky enough to have a great backyard or nearby park with some outdoor space, make the most of that. That outdoor space that you have can be a fantastic investment if you take care of it properly. Everyone loves outdoor portraits in beautiful places, so take the time to make that area beautiful if you’re going to take portraits of your family there. A landscaping company can help you plan the perfect layout and manage the upkeep so that you don’t ever have to worry about prepping for those pictures.
Know Your Lenses, Focal Points, and Lines
One of the main things you need to know about photography is how to focus, and on what. Every lens is different and the knowledge to better understand their focal lengths and powers is out there! Also, whether you’re shooting a subject like a person or animal, or if you’re just getting a landscape shot, you need to find a focal point on your screen or through your eyepiece. Once you find this, the rest of your image will come together, and it will be much easier on the viewer. Are the horizons and lines in the photo making you look at that subject and making that subject look good? Also remember to consider the simple things: whether trees or poles are growing out of someone’s head, whether anyone’s limbs are cut off in an odd way, and to take a few photos of a group to make sure no one is blinking.
Your Eyes Can Fool You
One thing you need to remember is that your eyes see something different from what the camera “sees.” This is especially true when shooting on a cloudy day. Your eyes can automatically adjust to the changing light and fix the white balance themselves. But your camera cannot do the same. Always remember to adjust the white balance on your camera when shooting outdoors with an overcast day, or if you’re under an odd coloured street lamp.
Everyone who takes photos wants to capture the perfect image. Sometimes you need a little help, especially with capturing outdoor images. Use the basic tips as mentioned above, and you’ll be able to get the best outdoor images every time![/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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