As a professional photographer, you want all the advantage you can get to garner more customers for your business. A great photography brand starts with the photography style itself. If you want your clients to get a good sense of your style, you can start by avoiding the most common mistakes that many photographers make so that you can take the best quality pictures.
5 Photography Don’ts
Some photographers think the following methods are useful, but you should steer clear of them if you want to accurately showcase your abilities.
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1. Relying on Autofocus
One of the most common mistakes new photographers make is relying on their camera’s autofocus feature. This allows the camera to choose what object to focus on so it can blur out the subject that you really want to photograph. To get a crisp shot, you should use manual focus or selective point autofocus. Zoom in on the LCD screen to ensure the photograph has the correct focus. With enough practice, you’ll have no problem getting the clear photos you want the first time.
2. Not Enough Light
Amateur photographers might notice that their images aren’t as sharp as those of the pros. Your photos may be blurry or dull. The problem is that there isn’t enough light reaching the sensor for the camera to produce a sharper image. To fix this issue, you can use a tripod or a monopod or choose a higher ISO setting to allow for faster shutter speeds. Using the camera’s flash will also help get that crisp shot you want.
3. Not Balancing Color
It’s a mistake to depend on your camera to capture colors correctly. In digital photography, you’ll come across color casts, or unwanted color tints, due to lighting and other factors. You can remedy this issue by utilizing the white balance settings on your camera. These settings will help balance out any color shifts that would naturally occur in a shot.
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4. Focusing Only on the Foreground
Some photographers often don’t consider how the entire frame looks in a photograph. It’s important to study the background of your intended shot and decide if it will work with the photo. For example, a photo with a lot going on in the background would detract from the main subject. You can reposition your camera, change your location, or simply zoom in to cleanly capture the desired photo.
5. Subject Placement Issues
Not considering the placement of the main subject could result in a less-than-stellar photo. For example, if your subject is too far away, it will be difficult for your clients to tell what the main focal point is of the photo. Move closer to your subject and use a high-quality telephoto zoom lens to get the best picture you can. Alternatively, you can crop the photo with editing software, but you should be sure to use the highest resolution possible when taking the picture.
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Famous photographers around the world have learned from these common mistakes and made a name for themselves. They include greats such as Annie Leibovitz, a portrait photographer who understands the importance of focusing on her main subject matter, and Robert Capa, a combat photographer who knew getting close to his subject was the best way to capture a shot his audience would remember. Learning from these photographers and using the above tips will help you get better results for your future photographs so that you can better show off your photography style.
