How can I take better selfies with my phone?

Use natural light, hold the camera slightly above eye level, and experiment with angles for flattering results.

What’s the best time of day for outdoor photos?

Early morning or late afternoon, during 'golden hour,' provides soft, warm lighting that enhances your photos.

How do I make my photos look more professional?

Focus on good lighting, clean backgrounds, and steady hands or a tripod to avoid blurriness.

Any tips for posing naturally in photos?

Relax your shoulders, try slight head tilts, and smile with your eyes for a genuine look.

What’s an easy way to improve composition?

Use the rule of thirds by imagining a grid and placing your subject off-center for a balanced photo.

How can I take better group selfies?

Use a selfie stick or timer to fit everyone in, and ensure there’s enough light for all faces.

Should I edit my photos before sharing?

Light edits like cropping, adjusting brightness, or enhancing colors can make your photos pop without losing authenticity.

How do I avoid harsh shadows on my face?

Face toward a light source or use a reflector (even a white piece of paper) to bounce light evenly.

What’s a good background for DIY photos?

Choose simple, uncluttered backgrounds like a plain wall, nature scenes, or colorful fabrics to keep focus on you.

How do I capture candid, natural moments?

Focus on activities, avoid posing, and take multiple shots to catch spontaneous, joyful expressions.

13 Tips for Taking the Best Photographs Ever ...

Want to take your photos from pretty-darn-good to mind-blowingly fantastic? It's not impossible, and the best part is, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment and training. Here are a few tips that can get you on your way, and the best part is, they're all free!

1. The Golden Hour(s)

The Golden Hour(s) New clients are always shocked when I tell them we'll be shooting at sundown. Won't the photos be better, they ask, in bright sunlight? Nope. Bright mid-day sun causes harsh shadows and lots of squinting. Golden hour (the hour at dawn and sundown) is incredibly gorgeous and flattering, so if at all possible, shoot then!

2. Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds When you're composing your shots, make sure you're keeping the subject of your photo in one-third of the frame. For instance, rather than placing the subject smack in the middle of the shot, frame the shot with the person to the left or right of center. Once you've mastered this rule, feel free to break it, though.

3. When Shooting Large Groups...

When Shooting Large Groups... Ever notice how, when you're shooting large groups (or even just three people), someone always blinks? Here's a fun way to keep that from happening. Once you've got everyone in position, tell them all to close their eyes, and when you count to three, to open them and smile. Then snap the shot! Hooray... no one's blinking!

4. Pick Your Point

Pick Your Point Most cameras default to automatic focal points, but sometimes, it's better to choose where you want the camera to focus: the eyes, or on whatever detail you're trying to highlight. Read the camera manual and find out how to choose the focal point, rather than letting your camera decide for you.

5. Make the Move to Manual

Make the Move to Manual Once you've taken control of the focal points, why not make the move from full auto to manual mode, where you can choose your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, too? It's a little intimidating at first, but again, it's so worth it to be able to choose everything for yourself!

6. One F-stop for Each Person

Now that you're shooting in manual, it might be hard to remember (at least at first) the rules for the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO). A good rule of thumb is to have one f-stop for each person in the photo. So if you're shooting a group of 3, bring that f-stop up to at least three.

7. Never Go below 1/160

Never Go below 1/160 Especially when you're shooting children, try not to set your shutter speed any slower than 1/160... unless you're using a tripod. Anything slower, and you risk losing the pin-sharp images you want.

8. Get down!

Get down! When you're shooting kids, it's always a good idea to get down on their level... shoot kids from your level, and you'll end up with shots of the tops of their heads. But get down to their perspective, and it's a whole new world of bright eyes and rosy cheeks!

9. Watch the Light

Watch the Light If at all possible, turn your subject's face (or at least their eyes) towards your light source... it makes eyes sparkle, and it's very flattering. If you want to backlight, of course, that's fine, but expect more of a silhouette than a traditional shot.

10. Use Pinterest for Inspiration, but...

Use Pinterest for Inspiration, but... ... don't "steal" ideas. Remember, a lot of those shots are heavily PhotoShopped, or are composites (two or more images combined into one). And besides, you're creative... use your own unique poses and props!

11. NEVER Ever Ever Shoot on Train Tracks

NEVER Ever Ever Shoot on Train Tracks There's a reason it's illegal to shoot on or near train tracks - it's so dangerous! Every couple of weeks, someone loses their life during a train-tracks photo shoot. It may be tempting, but don't do it! To learn more about why it's illegal, visit the Operation Lifesaver website at oli.org.

12. Find Your Niche

My specialty is portraits - families, kids, newborns, and seniors. But I don't do weddings, other special events, landscapes, or architecture. Not only do I have zero interest in shooting weddings and such, I don't want to have to invest in the equipment it would take to do both portraiture and weddings. Find out what inspires you, and make that your specialty... find your niche!

13. Don't Go Overboard

photograph, clothing, photography, girl, beauty, Whether it's spending more than you need to on every lens and photography gadget out there, or retouching a photo til it looks nothing like the SOOC (straight out of camera) image you took, avoid going overboard. For instance, you *could* spend a thousand dollars on a new lens, but why, when the lens I use every shoot, the one that never leaves my camera, costs only $125? And while it's perfectly fine to use PhotoShop to whiten teeth and get rid of blemishes, don't go too far and make your subjects unrecognizable.

Which of these tips will you use first? If you're a tog, too, what other tips can you share?

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I take better selfies with my phone?: Use natural light, hold the camera slightly above eye level, and experiment with angles for flattering results.
What’s the best time of day for outdoor photos?: Early morning or late afternoon, during 'golden hour,' provides soft, warm lighting that enhances your photos.
How do I make my photos look more professional?: Focus on good lighting, clean backgrounds, and steady hands or a tripod to avoid blurriness.
Any tips for posing naturally in photos?: Relax your shoulders, try slight head tilts, and smile with your eyes for a genuine look.
What’s an easy way to improve composition?: Use the rule of thirds by imagining a grid and placing your subject off-center for a balanced photo.
How can I take better group selfies?: Use a selfie stick or timer to fit everyone in, and ensure there’s enough light for all faces.
Should I edit my photos before sharing?: Light edits like cropping, adjusting brightness, or enhancing colors can make your photos pop without losing authenticity.
How do I avoid harsh shadows on my face?: Face toward a light source or use a reflector (even a white piece of paper) to bounce light evenly.
What’s a good background for DIY photos?: Choose simple, uncluttered backgrounds like a plain wall, nature scenes, or colorful fabrics to keep focus on you.
How do I capture candid, natural moments?: Focus on activities, avoid posing, and take multiple shots to catch spontaneous, joyful expressions.

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