Photography is a great hobby to learn – imagine the amazing photos you can take on vacation to remember where you’ve been and what you’ve seen.
Keep a visual record of your family as you grow and use the pictures to look back on the enjoyable times spent together – photography has many uses and the ability to take great pictures makes them even more valuable as time goes on. However, what if you are just starting out? Some people just take amazing photographs without any training – they have a creative eye that helps them see what others cannot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to take great photographs. As with any hobby, it takes time and patience to learn the various tricks to good photography – and there are a few easy ways to get started! Try implementing some of these tips the next time you head out with your camera:

Get closer to your image – There is a fine line between being too far away and too close to your image when taking a picture. Take your initial picture, and then take a few steps toward the subject, if possible – the image will fill out your frame much better and provide detail you otherwise wouldn’t capture so far away. If you can’t get physically closer, use the zoom function on the camera to get a better view!

Observe the light – In order to get clear pictures, you always need to have the sun or source of light behind you, not the subject. Light behind your subject means they will be too dark to see when you look back on the photos later. Sunlight or other sources of illumination might be hitting your subject in a fantastic way – so use it to your advantage. This is where many photographers get creative with dramatic contrast or interesting images.

Stay simple – Sometimes, the best pictures are the ones that look serene and simple. If you are just starting out, don’t try to overcomplicate the pictures by trying to get too artsy. Stick to the basics and keep the camera accessories to a minimum. If you aren’t too established with the functions available on the camera, those accessories won’t be of much use!

These are just a few tips for the beginning photographer – remember, keep it simple and experiment with different light sources or locations. Once you get a feel for the camera and functions, you will easily know how to create an amazing photograph!