Quick Photography Tips - Shoot Like A Pro!

Whether you shoot people, landscapes, or a bit of everything, there's a tip here for you!

When shooting landscapes, include the foreground. Landscape photos always tend to look better and more interesting if there's something in the foreground - even if it's just a few rocks or patterns in the sand when shooting the sea.

As a general rule, lenses that zoom more (such as 55-200mm) are better for portrait photography to just get the subject in, and lenses that zoom less are better for landscapes to fit more of the scene in the photo.

(Nearly) always shoot with a tripod. They are essential for shooting at slow shutter speeds to prevent the photo being blurry. In any case, a tripod prevents camera shake and ensures a crisp shot every time!

Photography is subjective - there is no rules, only guidelines. One good guideline is to have the subject of the photo to one side rather than centrally composed (the rule of thirds). This is easier on the eye to look at and is often more effective.

Take photos at sunrise or sunset for beautiful shots like this. It can be a pain getting up so early but it will be so worth it!

I find when shooting pets that just won't stay still, your best bet to get a good photo is to just take loads while the animal is moving and whilst trying to attract it's attention. Chances are you'll at least have a few good ones in the end. This also applies to any other subject.

Including reflections in your photos (where present) is an easy way to instantly make them more appealing. Whether it's a crisp reflection like this, or a more distorted one, photos can look a lot more interesting with the reflection.

If in a studio, experiment with colour gels (sheets of coloured plastic placed over a light, gives the effect shown above). When used effectively, they can make your images look really interesting and professional.

Invest in filters! They can be bought really cheap and can work wonders for your shots! If you only buy one, however, make it a Circular Polariser. This will enhance blue skies (as shown) and minimize reflections when shooting water or through windows.

Don't just zoom for convenience, try to get as close as possible to the subject first, then zoom. This will keep the quality as good as it can be.

This is an obvious one, but if you're going out to take photos, check:
- You have everything you need
- Your camera is fully charged
- Your memory card isn't full

I can't even count how many times I've forgotten one of these and it can end up ruining the entire shoot.

Last but certainly not least, keep your camera with you at all times (when possible)! Some of the best photos come from a good opportunity or a spontaneous moment/subject. If you don't have your camera, you'll miss moments like these.