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

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

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