It doesn't matter what kind of camera or lens you have, you are always capable of getting great pictures.
A lot can be changed with these simple rules to follow.
Outdoor lighting can be amazing or terrible. It all depends on the angle. Indirect light is always the most pleasing to the eye. Harsh sunlight can really affect the softness of someone's face.
If you are in a park, for example, and it's 1 in the afternoon, the sun WILL be high in the sky shining down and all over your face. This creates harsh shadows on your clothes, under your eyes, around your cheeks, etc. It is very unflattering light.
Instead of shooting facing the sun, or shooting below the sun, find a tree that is casting a large shadow. Find a wall that blocks the sun's harsh light. Put yourself against the sunlight. Anything you can do to put more focus on your subject matter, and less focus on how bright it is!
With that in mind, I move onto backlit pictures. There is a time of day, some people call it the golden hour, near dawn or dusk when the sun is lowest in the sky. Sometimes this gives the world a slight golden glow, sometimes, a blue glow, etc. It depends on the weather that day, but in general, it is ALWAYS the best time to take someone's pictures. This is a time when photographing someone looking into the sun is more plausible (because the sun is less intense). Photographing someone against the sun, however, is your best bet. The light is more forgiving on faces. It creates a vintage/foggy effect on your subject, and overall, sets a perfect tone for your picture. Instead of heading out for some pictures at 11 in the morning, try 4 or 5 (depending on the time of the year). Your results will be far more stunning!
Natural light is ALWAYS better. Whenever you can, take your pictures outside. Indoor lighting can leave your images looking orange and grainy/blurry.
If you are having orange toned pictures a LOT, there are two ways to solve it. First, your indoor pictures are probably being taken around yellow lamps that are giving off a warm tone to an already warm toned picture. If this is the case, it requires changing your white balance on an SLR camera. If you are NOT using an SLR camera, you must do other things. Open some windows! Let that natural light in! Second, you can edit your colors very easily in photoshop. Want to learn more about color adjusting? Click here for a quick tutorial!
The Rule of thirds is a pretty basic rule to follow. As most people do, we center our subject matter in the middle of the frame when taking a picture. But is this always the best way? DEFINITELY not always. Moving your subject to the sides of your image can really bring a whole new dimension and grasp someone's eye quicker. Shots taken straight in the center can be uninteresting, boring and pretty simple. I move my subject matter to the side a bit and I bring out a whole new feel to the image. Make sure that whatever your subject matter is, that they are facing inward to the picture. For example, do not have your model stand to the left of the frame looking off to the left. This leads our eye OUT of the picture. Make sure their face is turned to the right. That way our eye stays inside of the image frame where it belongs!
Centered, straight forward portraits work for dramatic shots. Not for nice smiling pictures in most cases. A center portrait is what most people would do! You're not most people and the only time that I see center, straight forward shots of a single person working really well, is when there is a unique angle or when your subject matter is serious.
Look down at a person and then take one looking forward at them.
Don't be afraid to crop. Take a picture of someone making a funny face with all of their face in the frame and then one where it's cropped right below their nose. Just like before with moving your angle, moving your crop is something to play with. People don't have to see the whole image. Sometimes having a tiny view into an image is just as exciting!
Avoid direct flash at all costs. Always, always, always, open windows, doors, blinds, curtains, anything to let more natural light in BEFORE you settle with a flash. If you use a point and shoot camera and have no way around using the flash indoors for something, try covering the flash with a piece of white paper as you take the picture. This lessens the intensity of the flash and distributes the light a bit more! Never use flash outside. If your camera always flashes, cover it up! Natural light is always more pleasing to the eye!
Set up a backdrop for a still life shot. Get rid of distractions for portraits. Instead of taking your outfit picture in front of the big screen tv, take it in front of the brick siding of your house. Instead of photographing your cute cat next to a stack of magazines and dvds, spread out a blanket to surround them. Remember that you are taking a picture of ____ and no one/thing else. You don't want a tissue box behind your pretty DIY finished work. You don't want your boyfriend's moped sticking half way out into a shot of you in a pretty dress! No, no, you want to keep the focus on your subject. Background objects can ruin that. As you may notice, however, I use an SLR camera which allows me to blur my background. This helps if there are a lot of background distractions, but it is still an important rule to follow, regardless!
Hopefully this was helpful! There are some exceptions to these rules, but the most important thing to remember when taking pictures is to be observant. When you look at other people's photographs, observe what you like about them. Try to notice the things you wouldn't normally notice. Angle, lighting, colors, background, posing, movement, etc. etc. etc. If you become more and more aware of what you love when you see a photograph, then you will apply those same principles to your own photos!
Great tips! Thanks!
Posted by: arielle | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:02
Really well written tips! Nice!
Posted by: knappflickan | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:25
wow this is great photography!! <3 <3 so pretty!!
Posted by: Elisha(: | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:39
So many things to remember while shooting, but these tips are great. Thank you!!!!
Posted by: Allison | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:44
i love this! great tips girl!!!
and all such beautiful shots!
xo TJ
Posted by: TJ | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:47
Great post and awesome photos!
Posted by: {Dust & Swallow} | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:31
Thank you :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:46
You're sweet! Thank you :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:46
Yep. A lot. :( But eventually it all comes naturally. Just takes practice I guess.
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:47
Thank you so much!
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:47
Thanks! I appreciate that :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:47
THANKS!
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:47
So so helpful Violet!
I have an important photo to take tomorrow and I'll definitely be taking these rules into consideration!
Posted by: Kelli | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:04
Bookmarked!!!! I loosely follow these guidelines already, but I always seem to forget 1 or 2 things that will help my photos tremendously....most notably preparing the backdrop....then I waste a bunch of time having to shoot something over again. This will be my official checklist to make sure I'm getting the most out of my shots! Thanks Violet!
Posted by: Cameron | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:11
WOOHOO!
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:17
I understand all too well! :P
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:17
These are all so awesome! Thanks a bunch for sharing :)
xo Heather
Posted by: Heather | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 14:45
Thank you for all the tips, Violet. I myself am clueless when it comes to photography. As is my hubby who takes my photos, so together we're a lost cause. :) But the whole time of day to take pictures and standing against the sun tips helped me the most! Thank you for doing this post.
Posted by: Ronifeelsnostalgic | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 14:55
eeeee puppy looks so fluffy and shiny with direct flash..wants ;.;
I think I'm going to have a photo shoot this weekend so going to try to follow the rule of thirds!
Posted by: Crissy | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 15:01
Such a great post filled with awesome tips! Thanks so much for sharing. :)
- Felicity. x
P.s. I've nominated you for a little blog award, so feel free to pop over and check it out!
http://pursuitoffelicity.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/yay-for-blog-awards.html
Posted by: Felicity | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 16:08
This is great advice, I've been guilty of the harsh sunlight thing. I think I heard somewhere that the sun is my friend, but no one told me how much better the shade is.
Thanks for this,
Love from Jo'burg
Posted by: Noms | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 23:36
Great post,t hank you so much for sharing with us :)
Posted by: Psycho Cat | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 05:15
No problem :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 15:54
Thank you!!!!
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 15:54
^_^ She is my favorite :D
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 15:55
Oh thank you Felicity! That's so sweet :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 15:55
It sounds right to use the "sun" as flash, but it ends up making people's faces look so much harsher. Shade is always more flattering :D
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 15:55
No problem! Thank you!
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 15:56
totally pinning this. so many genius reminders.
xo
Posted by: Nicole Neesby | Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 21:48
This gotta be my favorite post in your blog! I am bookmarking this for easy reference. Superb tips! I can't wait to get a decent camera.
Thanks Violet! :)
Posted by: aizzing | Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 04:24
Oooooh thank you! :D
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 06:10
Thank you so so much! :D
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 06:10
SUPER helpful tips. My boyfriend photographer has taught me a lot of this, but its so good to see some examples!! makes it a lot more tangible!
Posted by: Emily Baker | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 10:57
yes this was totally helpful.. thanks a ton for sharing this! i'm just starting to take pics for my etsy shop and can use all the advice i can get :) you're awesome!
Posted by: karen | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 13:35
These tips are amazing! I'm definitely not a professional photographer, but I love taking photos! Thank you!
New follower! yayyy! i'm already in love with your blog :)
Bailey
http://lostandfound-bailee.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-is-new-spring.html
Posted by: Bailey | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 14:55
So glad to hear that :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 15:15
No problem at all! :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 15:15
You're so sweet! Thank you :)
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 15:15
love these! All great tips:)
Posted by: FineandFeathered | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 18:26
:) Thanks so much!
Posted by: BlythePonytailParades | Friday, March 02, 2012 at 11:22
I thought the girl looked a lot more pretty with the looking down portrait. Depending on the time of day. The sun will have less or more reds and oranges. The less reds and oranges the more blue your going to see. This means that like your saying the time of day is very important when taking advantage of natural light. I still think the best photos can be taken with natural light.
Posted by: Mike | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 11:29