If you’ve recently purchased your first DSLR and want to learn the basics, or if you’re looking for simple ways to improve your existing photography skills, the following advice should help you lay a solid foundation.
Of course, photography is an art that you will never truly master. The best way to keep improving is to practice frequently, make mistakes, and be open to learning from others, whether they are established photographers or newcomers to the craft.
- Learn how to properly hold your camera.
Although this may seem obvious, many new photographers do not hold their cameras correctly, resulting in camera shake and blurry images. Of course, tripods are the best way to prevent camera shake, but since you won’t be using one unless you’re shooting in low light, it’s important to hold your camera properly to avoid unnecessary movement.
While you’ll eventually develop your own style, you should always hold the camera with both hands. To support the weight of the camera, grip the right side of the camera with your right hand and place your left hand beneath the lens. The closer you keep the camera to your body, the stiller you’ll be able to hold it. If you need extra stability you can lean up against a wall or crouch down on your knees, but if there’s nothing to lean on, adopting a wider stance can also help.
The closer you keep the camera to your body, the more still it will be. If you need more stability, you can lean against a wall or crouch down on your knees, but if you don’t have anything to lean against, taking a wider stance can help. - Portraits benefit from a wide aperture.
When shooting portraits of people or animals, the subject should be the main focus of the image, and the best way to achieve this is to use a wider aperture. This will keep your subject sharp while blurring out any distracting background elements.
Remember that a smaller f/ number indicates a wider aperture, and the wider the aperture, the more dramatic the effect. Some lenses can go as low as f/1.2, but even f/5.6 apertures will suffice. Switch to Aperture Priority Mode (Av or A) and experiment with different apertures to better understand how the aperture affects your images.
If you’re looking for portrait photography tips and inspiration, check out our interviews with photographers Reme Campos, Sian Davey, and Samir Hussein. - Master the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes.
If you want to get out of automatic mode but aren’t ready to switch to manual, Aperture Priority Mode (A or Av) and Shutter Priority Mode (S or Tv) are two very useful options available on most cameras that will give you more control without being overly complicated.
Aperture Priority Mode allows you to choose the aperture you want to use, and the camera will adjust the shutter speed accordingly. For example, if you’re shooting a portrait and want to blur the background, you could simply select a wide aperture and let the camera determine the appropriate shutter speed.
In Shutter Priority Mode, you choose the shutter speed and the camera chooses the aperture for you. For example, if you want a clear shot of your dog racing towards you, you can set the shutter speed to fast and let the camera choose the aperture for you. - Learn to use Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes
If you want to venture out of automatic mode but don’t feel confident enough to switch to manual yet, Aperture Priority Mode (A or Av) and Shutter Priority Mode (S or Tv) are two very useful options that are available on most cameras and will give you more control without being overly complicated.
Aperture Priority Mode lets you select the aperture you wish to use and then the camera adjusts the shutter speed accordingly. So for instance, if you’re shooting a portrait and want to blur the background, you could simply select a wide aperture and let the camera figure out what shutter speed is appropriate.
In Shutter Priority Mode, you select the shutter speed you want to use, and the camera will select the aperture for you. So, for example, if you want to get a clear shot of your dog racing towards you, you can select a fast shutter speed and let the camera choose the aperture for you. - Experiment with perspective
Experimenting with perspective is the best way to become more creative with your photography. When approached from a different angle, the same scene can often look very different, and photographing your subject from above or below can change the overall feel of a photograph.
Of course, not every angle will work for every photograph, but if you don’t try it, you’ll never know what works and what doesn’t. When photographing animals or children, try getting down on their level and looking at the world through their eyes. Why not stand on a bench and shoot your subject from above when shooting a portrait?
