Learning how to take professional pictures requires careful attention to your camera settings as well as your viewfinder. This post will cover how to exposure your images properly, how to control and use light properly, and photography tips and tricks to help improve the quality of your photographs.
Use the Correct Exposure
Photo by Brett Weinstein
When it comes to knowing how to take professional pictures, correct exposure a must. Your exposure basically is controlled by your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Each of these settings also controls other features of your photo such as depth of field and motion. If you don’t know the basics of exposure be sure to check out my post on exposure photography basics.
Use the Proper Depth of Field
Photo by Nic McPhee
Your aperture setting will affect the depth in your image. Large apertures (f1.8, etc) have shallow depth and small apertures (f16, etc) have a great deal of depth. Using a large aperture for an expansive landscape will often be an example of incorrect use of aperture.
Use Correct Shutter Speeds
Photo by Laszlo Ilyes
If you want to learn how to take professional pictures then you have to use the correct shutter speed that ensures image clarity. Yes, slow shutters are great for specific effects and with the use of tripods. But if you are going hand-held never use a shutter speed that may cause camera blur (ex. 1/60 or even faster depending on how shaky your hand is).
Use Correct Lighting
Wait for the Best Lighting
Photo by Paul Bica
One difference between professional photographers and amateurs is the way professionals obsess over light. There are nature photographers that will scout a location, decide on the best angle of light for the scene, and wait for it. This often means waiting hours or even days for the perfect natural lighting.
Use Reflectors, Diffusing Material, and Large Windows
Photo by Thomas Leuthard
When photographing outdoors or indoors, using lighting reflectors/diffusion will help get that professional, even lighting. Diffusion and reflectors will get rid of unwanted shadows, brighten dark areas, and help improve any location that has poor lighting. Professional photographers do not rely on expensive lights as much as their expertise on controlling light to get their desired image.
Aim for Perfection
You can learn all the photography tips and techniques but if you do not have a desire for perfection your photos will show it. The key to how to take professional pictures is holding yourself to the standards that professional photographers do. The tips below are a few “perfectionist” techniques all pro photographers follow.
Horizontal lines are straight
Photo by Gualtiero
When I look back on my photographs from earlier days, I cannot help but notice the crooked horizons. If your photo has a horizon line in it, make it a MUST to ensure that it is aligned with the horizon line in your frame. Crooked horizon lines scream of incompetence.
Focus on Focusing
Photo by Paul Bica
Ensure that your focal point of the image is in clear, sharp focus. It should be the most in-focus area of your photo.
Use Proper Composition
Photo by Seier Seier
Using leading lines, the rule of thirds, and other basic rules for composition are a must for professional photographs. For more info on composition check out my post “7 Tips on Photogrpahy“.
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I like this weblog so much, saved to fav.
Being a pro photographer for a few years, I’ll be honest….I don’t take beautiful pro quality photos all the time.
The difference between me and amateurs is that I delete those crappy photos. My standards for what I accept as a “keeper” are far higher than others. And that is why the photos in my profile look professional.
My tip for everyone reading this…raise your standards for what you accept in your photos and you’ll start taking more professional photos.