
There was post on flickr group about the photography tips, which I really like. These tips are basics, and will help a lot if you are new to photography.
General Photography Tips
- Always make sure you have enough power for your digital camera
- Make sure you have spare batteries for your digital camera
- Keep your camera and SLR lenses clean and dry and carry a lens cleaning kit
- Never remove your memory card or switch off your camera while pictures are being saved
- Keep memory cards away from magnetic forces
- Before embarking on a holiday or assignment, get your camera and accessories checked over
- Think about camera bags and cases before embarking on a trip
- Avoid placing the main subject of your photo in the centre of the frame. Think composition before pressing your camera’s shutter release
- Never be afraid to experiment with your camera
- Remember, anyone can take pictures, but only those with passion take photographs with lasting quality
Wedding Photography Tips
- If you’re not the official wedding photographer, keep out of their way. It’s a difficult enough job to do!
- Arrive early at the church/venue and work out the best photo locations, taking into account the weather and the direction of the sun
- Take an umbrella!
- Seek permission if you wish to take photographs indoors
- Take spare memory cards as you may not have time to delete unwanted shots as you go along
- Use a camera tripod
- Don’t be shy, talk to the wedding guests and tell them when you’re taking the photograph. This will help avoid ‘wandering eye’ syndrome when everyone looks in different directions
- Make a list of the traditional groups that you should photograph and make sure you don’t miss any important shots
- Ask the bride and groom if there are any particular photographs they want
- Be on the look out for informal shots, the most successful informal-looking pictures have usually been set up by an experienced photographer!
- Use fill-in flash and carry a reflector to use with your camera when the light is strong or dull
- Besides photographing groups, take plenty of close ups. Portraiture is popular at weddings
Beach Photography Tips
- Prevent sand getting into your camera and lens. If you do not have anything else to protect your camera, use a plastic bag
- Keep your camera well away from the sea as salt water can also be a camera-killer
- Consider using a waterproof housing for your camera
- Look for high vantage points such as cliff tops for interesting viewpoints
- Use an ultraviolet filter to reduce the blueness of the light
- Use a polarising filter to give dramatic skies. This filter intensifies the blues and increases contrast. It can also help cope with reflections from water
- Look out for pictures including features other than people. Patterns in the sand, driftwood and other items washed up can make interesting subject matter
- Be sensitive to other people on the beach. Your intentions could be misinterpreted by topless or naked sunbathers
Ski Photography Tips
- Keep your camera and camera batteries warm, next to your body, at very low temperatures battery life can be short
- Use a UV filter on your camera lens. This prevents your photographs looking excessively blue
- Use fast shutter speeds to capture sharp action shots
- Be aware of other skiers, if you’re looking through your camera you may not see them coming
- Look for colourful ski gear to photograph
- Try following the action using a slow shutter speed of about 1/15 sec (panning). This can make for very striking photographs
- Look for pattern pictures in the snow
- Avoid taking photos when the sun is overhead. It makes the snow look flat and uninteresting
Safari Photography Tips
- Take a telephoto lens, no shorter than 300mm. The larger the animal is in the frame, the more impact your photo will have
- Use a minimum shutter speed of 1/500 sec even when using a tripod
- Use a tripod to get razor sharp images. Alternatively, rest your long lens on something steady, cradled in a camera bean bag
- Get out early in the morning to take pictures. Most animals are more active at this time of day, but not tourists!
- Watch the background and make sure there is nothing intrusive in your photograph. Moving just a couple of yards either way may improve your image considerably
- Think carefully about your aperture. By using a large aperture you can throw the background out of focus to isolate your subject
- Don’t give up when it’s cloudy – soft lighting conditions can be very effective
- Look for animals doing something other than just sleeping
- If you can, move closer to the animal and try using a little fill-in flash to give “catch lights” in the eyes. This can be tricky with lions!
Night Photography Tips
- A good camera tripod is essential, but otherwise steady your camera on a wall or post
- Start taking photographs at dusk when there is still detail in the sky
- Use a remote control release to prevent camera-shake and, if you have one, use a mirror lock
- Try very long exposures. This works particularly well when moving traffic is in the frame
- Fireworks are excellent subject matter. Experiment with slow and fast shutter speeds for creative effects
- Some of the most atmospheric night shots are taken in fog or mist
- Take a torch. Setting camera controls by touch needs practice
Sunset/Sunrise Photography Tips
- Look for strong and interesting silhouettes to photograph against the light
- Lift your camera up to exclude any unwanted foreground which will only show as a dark landscape
- Experiment by over and underexposing the sky
- Turn your camera away from the sunset and photograph the reflected light in windows and buildings
- A graduated grey filter can be useful to darken the sky against the foreground landscape
- Take a sequence of photographs showing the changing colours of the sunrise/sunset
- Rest your camera on a solid platform or object. Better still, use a camera tripod
- Do not look directly in to the sun, especially through your camera lens
Historical Site Photography Tips
- Study monuments and buildings carefully, noting when the sunlight falls on the most interesting viewpoints
- Avoid photographing monuments against dull and cloudy white skies. If possible, wait until the sun shines
- When using a wide angle lens, be careful with converging verticals. Use a spirit level on a tripod to get the camera level
- Try to visit historical monuments when battle re-enactments are taking place. There are some wonderful photographs to be taken at such events
- Look for decay and detail which can be more interesting than general views
- Study picture postcards of the building or monument to see what the ‘professional photographer’ has taken and where the best viewpoints are. Try to improve on these photographs
- Get permission to photograph indoors
- Flash can kill indoor atmosphere so try to use available light. You will definitely require a camera tripod for this technique
Underwater Photography Tips
- See whether an underwater housing is available for your existing digital camera
- If you use a camera housing, beware of bubbles drifting in front of the lens
- The best time of day to take underwater photographs is between 10am and 2pm when the sun is overhead
- Shoot at an upward angle where there is more light
- Look for strong colours and try to isolate the subject from the background, the deeper you dive the less colourful it is
- Get in close to your subject. Through a diving mask, everything looks 25% closer than it is
- Take powerful silhouettes by shooting with the sun behind your subject
- Experiment by taking pictures with your camera half in and half out of the water. This needs practice but the results are striking



Recent Comments