H O W TO TA K E
better photographs by Ebony Logins, Clickin Moms Mentor
H OW TO TA K E BE T TER PHOTO GR A PHS | EBO NY LO GI NS
Image by Jyo Bhamidipati
Taking better photographs is a mix of your personal growth, artistic vision, and technical skill development. Photography is a journey in lifelong learning. There is always something new to learn - that’s what I love the most about photography! When I began my photography journey 6 years ago with a Nikon D3100 and a kit zoom, I didn’t know how to take better photographs. All I knew is that I wanted to take better photographs. Like any good list maker, I created a 3-page, double-sided list of all the photography words I didn’t understand so that I could remember what I needed to learn. What I didn’t know was how all of the items fit together to create a photograph, and which steps I needed to take before the next. I was super ready to Google my way through photography. Luckily, that’s when I came across the Clickin Moms community and found hundreds (now thousands!) of tutorials that pushed me to become the photographer I am today. Not long after, I became a Lifetime Member and I haven’t looked back since! I imagine that some of you are on a similar journey, amazed by all the learning this art has to offer and all the tools and resources at your fingertips. This guide will help you through some of the ways you can become a better photographer and take better photographs, no matter what your genre.
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Gear Considerations Investing in good photography gear is an important first step. Many photographers start with a crop sensor DSLR and 50mm lens or a kit lens. This is a great place to start because you have all the tools you need to create an excellent photograph. So how do you know when to move to a full frame camera? Once you start to find limitations with your current camera body it may be time to consider a full frame camera. That means that your technical skills have now surpassed the ability of your tools, and you
Sony 90mm 2.8 macro + Sony a7Riii
know what you need to have in your equipment in order to accomplish the photograph you envision. This is also true for lenses. If you’re finding your 50mm or kit lens is too limiting in a tight indoor space, you may want to invest something that provides a wider focal length. You may also want to move from an f/2.8 lens to an f/1.2 lens in order to capture more light if you tend to shoot in darker environments. This article by Director of Clickin Moms, Julia Tuley, goes into more depth on kit lenses, what they’re good for, and when it might be time to consider an
Image by Lisa Tichané | Canon 24-70mm 2.8 + Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
upgrade. There are so many factors that could influence your desire for new equipment. Just make sure you do so within budget.
Sigma ART 35mm 1.4 + Nikon D750
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As you continue to grow, you will start to find other limitations or desire other capabilities in your equipment. Renting equipment is a great idea before buying. There are so many mixed reviews on even the best investments, so finding the one that’s right for you (before you buy!) will save you a lot of trouble after purchasing.
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
Sigma ART 35mm 1.4 + Nikon D750
— George Hebert
Sony 90mm 2.8 macro + Sony a7Riii
Nikon 105mm 2.8 + Nikon D750
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Anatomy of a Photograph Have you ever looked at a photograph and loved it, but you didn’t know why? I bet it has to do with one or all of the following factors: Knowing why you love a photograph can help you determine your strengths and opportunities for further growth. Look not only at your own works, but also at the works of others, to determine what you love most about the photograph. What are you drawn to? What keeps you searching through the image? How would you like to emulate this in your next works?
Image by Mickie DeVries
Subject Choosing a subject can be as easy as photographing what you love. You may be inspired by your children, your environment, an emotion, or anything in between. No matter what your subject, you will want to make it interesting. You’ve probably been in the situation where you’ve identified a subject but had no idea how to make it interesting or tell your story. Don’t worry - you haven’t picked a bad subject! You just need to add a little technique, composition, and light to accomplish that. In any given image, you can have a main subject or several main subjects. Most likely, you will have one main subject. If there are other subjects in the frame, they are likely going to be secondary subjects that support the message of the main subject. Your subject can be common or unusual, obvious or mysterious, dynamic or static. Either way, the big goal here is to create a compelling subject that draws the attention of the viewer. clickinmoms.com
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Technique If you’re reading this, chances are you have at least a basic knowledge of the Exposure Triangle: ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Understanding the three technical aspects of creating an image will allow you to do so, but mastering these is most important if you’re seeking to improve your skill beyond the technical. Here’s how you can use each one intentionally to become a better photographer:
Image by Meg Loeks
ISO: A lower ISO will collect less light and create less grain. If you’d like to increase light or add grain to your image, increase your ISO.
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Aperture: The lower the number, the shallower your depth of field. To capture a landscape or sun flare, increase your aperture. If you’d like to capture a sliver of information in focus in order to tell a story or create creamy bokeh, lower your aperture.
Image by Jenny Rosenbring
Shutter Speed: Of course, you can freeze motion with a fast shutter speed, but you can also slow it down for intentional motion blur. Decrease your shutter speed for a long exposure of the night sky, the ocean waves, or to blur a twirling dress.
These are all skills you can practice indoors or outdoors on inanimate objects. A vase of flowers, toys, food, or your local park flora are great items to help expand your creativity and get all of these skills to click. Practice makes perfect, and you’ll soon discover how all of these elements work together to create your vision. With enough practice, you can look at a scene and moment and know how to manipulate your exposure triangle elements to accomplish your vision.
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Composition Composition is such a fun skill to master! There are so many different elements of composition, so finding the ones that suit your style can be quite the adventure. This is probably where analyzing the anatomy of a photograph is most important. You will start to discover the tools you use most, the ones you’re best at, and the ones your drawn to. Take a close look at the following images. Are there additional compositional elements present? What technical skills were used? What I find most interesting about these compositional elements is how they support the story. What to the elements do to tell you more about the story and subject? How do they add intrigue to the subject(s) and story? Do they assist in portraying the intended message, or perhaps even create a different message depending on the viewer’s experience and prejudice?
Repetition: Repetition is a compelling compositional tool because it implies importance, drawing the viewer the to meaning of the repeated objects.
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Lines and Shapes: Whether they are be physical lines or implied, lines can lead a subject through the frame in any direction. An implied line of sight between subjects is common, as is the implied line of sight and connection between a subject staring towards the camera/viewer. Shape can take many forms in a photograph. The most common shapes are circles and triangles, which are most often found in nature.
Image by Chanel French
Depth: The goal of layering your images is to draw the viewer through the background, middle, and foreground of a frame.
Framing: Another tool to signify importance, framing can help the viewer focus naturally on the intended subject or story. Used in tandem with other compositional elements (such as reflection and texture), framing can be very powerful.
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Crop: An intentional creative crop requires the viewer’s imagination to fill in the blanks. This is a great tool for creating a compelling image, since the viewer may feel drawn to complete the visual puzzle.
Image by Jen Bilodeau
Golden Spiral: Found commonly in nature, the Golden Spiral is a visually pleasing way of reading an image. A strong spiral will consist of content from the tail of the spiral along it’s curve, and into the focal point of the spiral. Try practicing this complex composition in nature and then implementing it on moving subjects or animated moments.
Texture: Texture can add depth and dynamic range to an image. It can be used to enhance the mood of a simple frame. The mood it creates can be anything from soothing to chaotic depending on the texture!
Image by Jyo Bhamadipati
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Fill the Frame: Covering the entire frame with information gives the viewer the sense that they’re right there, in the moment.
Negative Space: This element can be used to enhance the mood of an image, pop a subject, and draw the viewer directly to the intended message.
Image by Jen Bilodeau
Minimalism: This simple way of capturing a subject can really enhance the mood and draw the viewer’s attention to the important clues within the frame.
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Color: Color is so impactful because it is grabs attention and holds so much meaning. You can use one color, complimentary colors, triadic colors (my favourite!), and other combinations to enhance your message. Having a strong understanding of color theory will improve your photographs.
Subject Isolation: A variety of compositional elements can be used to isolate your subject. This tool point the viewer directly to your subject, which immediately makes them a strong or important focal point of the scene.
Image by Jamie Eilts
Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting elements close together will add interest to an image by developing your subject’s character. The subject is no longer alone – it’s now compared to something different than itself. Our identities are based on our commonalities and differences, so a viewer can pick up on even the subtlest juxtaposition and connect to the character on a deeper level.
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Moment: Practice being patient and anticipating the decisive moment in front of you. Yes, you’ll miss a thousand moments! That’s okay – you’ll catch a thousand more by being present, ready, and aware.
Image by D'Ann Boal
“A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.” — Ansel Adams
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Image by D'Ann Boal
Light It’s no doubt that light plays a major role in a compelling image. Learning to “see” light is so rewarding and many photographers “chase” light while holding it as a staple in their photographs. To take your photographs to the next level, one quick tip is to analyze the light you currently use and find new ways to include it in your images. We learn by studying and experimenting, so get out that notebook and start tracking the light in and around your house! Know the best times of day for gorgeous light in each are of your home. Then, when you go to practice your technical skills on inanimate objects, you’ll be able to do so at different times of day and in different light depending on where you place your subject throughout the day. Let’s talk about maximize your lighting experiments! Shooting in the Golden Hour is a great way to build your light skills, create gorgeous images, and gain confidence. If possible, find an outdoor location that provides you with an open space where the sun will set and filter behind some trees. Arriving an 1-1.5 hours before sunset will allow you to play with a bit of harsh light and shadows, beautiful dreamy golden filtered light, and moody Blue Hour light as the sun sets.
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You can also experiment with different lens choices. Different focal lengths will impact the amount of light that filters into the lens. You can achieve many different looks – the lens can be, in this sense, a compositional tool. Just like light can be manipulated by your lens, it can also be manipulated with artificial lighting tools and equipment. With either natural light or artificial light, the best photographs will be created when you know the effect the light will have on your final image and when you understand how to adjust yourself and your tools to capture the light you want. Harsh light is a challenge, especially if you’re used to Golden Hour light. If you’re afraid of shooting in mid-day sun, now is the time to push yourself to the next level -- try something new! Just have fun and experiment. Be prepared to shot with low ISO, high shutter speed, and to expose for the highlights. This is the kind of situation where “chimping” – looking at the back of your camera after taking a shot – is helpful. Set your screen to show your histogram and activate your blinkies. If you’re clipping blacks or blowing highlights, your blinkies will alert you! The same applies for low light images or harsh light images where you’re working with a large dynamic range from deep blacks to bright whites. In post processing, you can test your camera’s abilities… if you’re clipping blacks (losing all details in the shadows) or blowing highlights (losing all detail in the brightest parts of your photo), are you able to recover them?
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Personal Projects
Personal projects you could try:
Starting a personal project is a fantastic way to improve your photography. The
• Project 365 or P52
more you shoot – with intention – the better you will become. If you’ve got it in
• One Photo Every Day at 5pm
you, a 365 Project (one in which you intentionally take one photo every day for a year) will grow your work exponentially! Personally, I’ve never been able to make it past the first month as they are rather time consuming, so a P52 Project (one in
• High ISO • Harsh Light – Indoor & Outdoor
which you take a photo once a week) is more up my alley. You can also forget about
• Painterly Portraits
deadlines and focus on content. You could focus on a different photography genre,
• f/16
use one lens until you master it, or even create a set of work that tells a story of
• Movement
importance to you.
• 85mm Lens
Even when you’re insanely busy, there is always a way to incorporate a project that
• One Subject 10 Ways
is in the best interest of your journey. For example, this year has been the busiest
• Break the Rules
year for my wedding photography business. I had only a few free weekends and
• Shoot from Above
decided to second shoot for local photographers. I never kept the images – my goal was not to create a portfolio or improve my editing. I focused solely on improving
This is only a short sample of projects.
my documentary captures, creating moments, those boring wedding family photos,
There are so many more you could
and details. It is so freeing to take photographs without ever knowing what
participate in, and you can always
they look like. Every time I pressed the shutter, I knew I was becoming a better
create your own! This is YOUR journey.
photographer, and by the end of summer, I feel like it really paid off.
Do what make sense for YOU!
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BONUS:
100 photography terms you should know Shutter Speed
Panorama
Mood
ISO
HDR
Motion Blur
Aperture & f-stop
Double Exposure
Brenizer Method
Bokeh
Burst Mode
Depth of Field
Grain & Noise
Plane of Focus
Manual Mode
Rule of Thirds
Crop
Colour Cast
Golden Spiral
Balance
Hot Shoe
Golden Triangle
Point of View & Perspective
Black Foamy Thing
Implied Line
Shadows
Directional Light
Rembrandt Light
Sun Flare
Side Light
SOOC
Silhouette
Backlight
Foreground
BBF/Back Button Focus
Front Light
Macro
Decisive Moment
Flat Light
Wide Angle Lens
Moment Design
EXIF Data
Fixed Aperture Lens
Colour Theory
Image Stabilization
Zoom Lens
Negative Space
Lens Calibration
Telephoto Lens
High Key
Monitor Calibration
Framing
Low Key
Soft Light
Blown Highlights
RAW
Diffused Light
Clipped Shadows
Full Frame
Neutral Density Filter
Out of Gamut
Your WHY
Grey Card
Soft Proof
Portfolio
sRGB
Motion Blur
Exposure Compensation
Vignette
Tack Sharp
Focal Length
Matte Look
Lifestyle
Stop down
Repetition
Documentary
Polarizing Filter
Compositing
Limb Chop
Kelvin
Depth
White Balance
Bracketing
Presets
Skin Tone
Juxtaposition
TTL
Crooked Horizon
Storytelling
Diopter
Blinkies
Layering
Flat Lay
Histogram
Texture
Aspect Ratio
Chimping
Shape
Lens Flare
Atmosphere
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Image by Lisa Tichané
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Ebony Logins Ebony Logins is a natural light wedding photographer who mixes documentary and moment design into her work. She is a member of Clickin Moms, a Clickin Moms Mentor, a Click Away Instructor, and she also co-authored the Click Photo School Breakout Perfect Pairs: The Art of Couples Photography.
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