This Is the Right Way of Taking a Snapshot

Photography is something that has become a core aspect of our lives. Many people formulate it as a hobby. However, not many opt for it as a profession. The reason is fairly obvious. Everyone can photograph, but there aren’t many who have the skill to turn a picture into a mesmerizing piece of art. 

Taking a Snapshot!

There is a lot involved in taking the perfect snapshot. From the ISO to the Rule of Thirds, every element plays an important role in making a photograph worthy of praise. If you are looking forward to enhancing your skill, and laying the basis of being a professional photographer, the following tips will surely help you learn the right way of taking a snap. 

The Background

Until explicitly pointed out, people don’t tend to notice the most minute aspects that are important in taking a good picture. One of the most common mistakes made is regarding the background of a picture. It should be something that highlights the subject of your picture, rather than taking the focus off of the subject.

You can start off by sticking to more plain backgrounds while shooting. This will help you focus more on the subject and make it a more enticing figure in the shot. 

Focusing on the Subject 

So we know that it is of utmost importance to use a background that highlights the subject, but that doesn’t mean you can just let the subject be. Since it is the core of a picture, a professional photographer would want it to make a statement, tell a story.

The simplest way of bringing something out of your subject is eye-contact. Have the subject look into the lens. Eyes tend to utter a thousand words. This will breathe life into your picture. 

Magnify Your Image

Portraiture is among the most divine forms of photography. What makes these images more captivating to the eye is a close-up. When you move in closer to the subject, it offers the viewer a sense of connection which is something you’d want from your photos. 

The trick here is simple. Instead of taking those regular portraits, take a snap by moving in a bit closer. A lot of professionals even consider taking a headshot of the subject to help the photo convey more. 

Use ISO

Moving towards the more technical side of it, if you want to become a good photographer, you need to factor in the ISO in your pictures. It is a function that helps you adjust the lighting and the subsequent shutter speeds. The darker a shooting environment is, the higher the shutter speeds will be.

To get a better hand, think of a midday situation. Shooting outside in broad daylight will require you to use ISO at its lowest, preferably between 100-200. On the other hand, shooting in dark will require a higher ISO so you can capture more light through the sensor. In addition to brighter images in low-light conditions, higher ISO will also increase the shutter speed on your camera allowing you to capture fast moving subjects. One thing that you need to keep in mind with ISO is that going overboard with it also leads to more grain and noise in a picture. This brings us to our next important topic, the lighting.

Know Your Lighting

A lot of amateur photographers fail to make the most of lighting. It is one of the simplest, yet among the most important parts of being a professional photographer. Regardless of the time or place you are shooting at, there is always some sort of play you can do with the available amount of light. Knowing how to make the most of it is where your creativity comes in.

Here is a great tip to get started. Find out the source of the light and where it meets that subject. Is it meeting the subject from the front, or falling upon it from a side? Usually, for portraiture, it is preferred that the light falls from over the top. If the light is forming shadows, you have yet another thing to play with and create a great snapshot. 

Frame the Scene 

If you don’t focus on the framing while taking a snapshot, there is a very good chance that your pictures will not boast the level of professionalism you want. Frame lets you decide what is important enough to land in the shot. You can choose the elements that define, support, and highlight your subject.

In case you don’t have a good frame for your subject from a certain standpoint, you can move around. Different angles can offer different content to frame with your subject. 

Find Angles

Taking a snapshot that is worthy of showcasing is more about angles than it is about the subject you choose. The beauty of it is that different angles let you make different statements about the same subject. You can opt for an angle based on where the lighting hits the scene from. Again, this is where your creativity can play a major role in determining the quality of the shot. 

You can also follow the infamous rule of thirds in photography. It works in a majority of cases. The rule of thirds in photography states that you should align the subject along the intersection points of an imaginary grid—two horizontal and two vertical lines equally spaced and intersecting each other (think a skeleton of the game crisscross or tic-tac-toe). This will create more energy in the composition of the photo and make it more appealing to the eye. 

In a Nutshell

Anybody can take a snapshot, but to take a professional photograph, you need to focus on a wide variety of elements. The above-mentioned pointers can help you get started, and you can continue further as you grow. 

Want to hire professional photographers for a project? Dino Mosley Photography can help! We are experts in the field and offer a wide range of photography ranging from fitness to fashion. To hire us, or opt for our consultancy services, all you need to do is dial 323-332-1197, and get in touch with us.