Over the last year I have worked to improve my photography skills and through that I’ve learned at least 10 Ways to Improve Your Photography Skills which I am going to share with you today.
10 Ways to Improve Your Photography Skills
- Invest in good lighting. Natural light is the best possible source of light you can get for great photographs but not all of us are fortunate enough to have that in our homes so I recommend investing in good lighting. Our home doesn’t have a whole lot of natural light so I invested in 2 large photography lights that have been amazing for taking photos.
- Obtain Backdrops. Backdrops are everywhere but you want them to be appealing in photos. Old wood blocks, tables, and fabric make good choices. My personal favorite is scrapbooking pages because there are so many options and they are very inexpensive.
- Invest in a good camera. It’s never necessary to invest thousands of dollars into a camera from the beginning but you still need a good camera. I have heard the iPhones these days take amazing images. Even a click and shoot camera that is under $200 can do the trick. If you are really serious, I highly recommend a DSLR camera. Nikon just happens to be my favorite. The point is to have something that will take clear photos. By the way, I highly recommend getting a camera strap so you can place the camera around your neck and for more stability during use. You can snag one from places such as Amazon or even at lanyardsfactory.com.au.
- A tripod is your friend. You can have a great camera but if you have a shaky hand then your photos won’t turn out as well. I love tripods because they free up your hands for taking photos and help keep everything sturdy while shooting. You can find tripods relatively inexpensive on Amazon.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. When you are little you are taught that practice makes perfect and in the world of photography that still applies. Start by taking a walk and taking pictures of small things. Try different angles, different lighting, etc. Eventually taking photos will be a natural thing for you.
- Research it all. I am a person that likes to read and research everything so naturally I did that when I purchased my first DSLR camera. I would watch YouTube videos while I breastfed my son, read articles online during nap time, and asked around to other’s I knew that were familiar with photography. The more you learn, the better you will be so research is such a great (free) resource.
- Recreate beautiful images. Sometimes the best way to learn is to try to duplicate something someone else does. I am not saying copying word for word or stealing someone’s idea. I am saying that you can go online and search for an image you love. Then test yourself by trying to recreate that image. Continue doing this until you are satisfied with the image you produce. Then you can build on those acquired skills to create your own beautifully captured images.
- Take a class. Some people learn better when they can actually do it in front of someone else. A photography class is a great way to learn hands on and get instant feedback from the instructor. You can find classes at your local college or even find some online that are taught via Skype. It is initially an investment but can really save you the headache of doing it on your own.
- Keep composition in mind. When you take a photo you want to pay attention to what is actually going to be captured in the image. Everything from the angle you choose to the focal point is important. I highly recommend reading up on the “rule of thirds” because that can truly help your images!
- Adobe Creative Cloud is EVERYTHING. You know how sometimes people mention that if they could recommend one thing is would be this? Well, this is the one thing I would recommend above all. Adobe Creative Cloud includes Photoshop and Lightroom which are 2 programs that can take your pictures from okay to over the top amazing. I’ll explain more on that below.
Take your photos to the next level with Adobe
The Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan is one that will transfer your photos from ordinary to extraordinary. You capture the moment. Then make it your own with the combined power of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe Creative Cloud and helpful mobile apps.
I can tell you that without my Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, my photos would not be what they are today. One of my most recent posts is this Apple Crisp Cake in a Mug and it has done amazing. So well in fact, that I am being featured on several other blogs for this recipe. Sure, I know how to use my camera but I also know how to edit my images. Want to see a before and after? Check this out!
So tell me which one is more appetizing to you? For me, the one on the right for sure. It has better lighting, more color, and that caramel just really stands out and makes me drool! The only difference in these photos it the editing I did. The one on the left is my raw photo shot outside in natural lighting. The one on the right is the same image but I brightened it up, straightened it, and used more contrast. I don’t think this recipe would be doing as well if I hadn’t made the photo the best is could be.
With Adobe Creative Cloud you can:
- Perfect your Photography: From everyday edits to total transformations, the Creative Cloud plan lets you retouch and manipulate images in just about any way you can imagine.
- Organize, Edit & Share images from Anywhere: On your computer, on the web, on your iPad and on your iPhone or Android device. And when you make an editor flag a favorite in one place, it’s automatically updated everywhere else through Adobe CreativeSync technology.
- Showcase your Work: Organize images in web galleries or share them on your favorite social sites. Then use the Adobe Slate mobile app to craft visual stories and animated videos and the Adobe Voice mobile app to add your own voice for narration.
By now you should be convinced that you need Adobe Creative Cloud in your life. I promise it will be worth the investment and worth your time!