Simple Photography Tips to Improve Your Photos

No matter where you are in your photography journey, there’s always room to improve. That’s what makes photography such a fun hobby… You’ll always have opportunity to learn and grow your skill!

The biggest reason I love photography is that I get to document my family’s memories - the big and small - and one day pass them on to my children as reminders of their past. We all have our “why” behind why we snap the photos we do. Whether you enjoy taking photos of your children, family, pets, nature, travels, or anything else under the sun, it reveals something about YOU and what you love. So, why not learn simple steps to create even better photos you’re proud of and will cherish forever?

I’ll be keeping things simple today and won’t dive into the more technical aspects of photography (more on that in the future, and/or check out my Beginners DSLR course coming soon!).

Today I’ll be sharing easy, actionable steps you can start taking today to improve the quality of the photos you take.

And the best part - these tips are both phone and dslr camera friendly!

Tips and Tricks to Taking Better Photos

Okay, now let’s get into it! Whether you use your phone or a DSLR camera, these five tips will give you both some technical and creative understanding to enhance your photos today.

tip 1: stay focused

Okay, I know this is a no brainer, but it’s too important not to include! It’s important that the subject(s) of your photo are sharp and in focus. You can determine what parts of your photo are in focus versus what parts are blurry by selecting the spot for your lens to concentrate. Once you select your focus, then the lighting and depth of field for the rest of your photo should set itself in most automatic camera modes.

To set focus on a phone camera, simply tap your subject so that it comes into focus.

To set focus on a point and shoot or DSLR camera, hold the shutter button halfway down until your subject comes into focus. You will probably see focusing points when you look through your viewfinder. Make sure one of the focus points is on your subject when you press the shutter halfway down to focus. Then snap your photo!

You will see in the first photo below that the foreground and background of my son’s position is blurred. That is because I focused on his face. I took this photo using my DSLR camera and a lens that creates more of that blurred look. I will be talking more about these topics in my Beginner’s DSLR Course if you’re interested in learning more!

In the second photo of my daughter, I made sure that my focus point was focused on my daughter’s eye, which made her eyes look crisp and clear in the photo.

tip 2: proper exposure

Exposure is very important to understand in photography. Simply put, exposure is how much light reaches your camera sensor, which impacts how dark or bright your photo is. Your goal is to have a properly exposed photo, which means not too dark and not too bright.

The photo below is an example of an underexposed photo. You can notice that the shadows and dark areas of the photo are much too dark.

The photo below is an example of an overexposed photo, meaning it’s too bright. You will notice that the highlights (light parts of the photo) are so bright that it’s losing a lot of detail in those areas.

The third photo below is an example of a correctly exposed photo. The highlights (bright parts) aren’t so bright that it’s losing detail, and the shadows aren’t too dark. You will notice there are still areas of shadow, or dark areas, in the photo. Since my son was at an angle from the window, it makes sense that there will still be some shadows on his face. Make sure you pay attention to your lighting and how it falls on your subject to help you get a proper exposure

So how do you make sure you get a properly exposed photo?

The camera on your phone makes it pretty easy, luckily! Simply tap on your subject to focus. Oftentimes your phone will automatically adjust the exposure (lighting) of your image for you based on your subject. If you still think it’s too dark or too bright, hold your finger down on the screen and move up to increase or down to decrease the lighting. If this doesn’t work, do a quick google search for how to adjust exposure on your make and model of phone.

For DSLR cameras: automatic mode usually does a pretty good job for you, as well. Set focus on your subject and your camera will take care of the rest. However, your camera doesn’t always work the way you want to create the image you have in your head. If you want the photo darker or brighter, then you can take control of your camera by switching it out of Auto mode. Manual mode, Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority modes allows you to have much more control over the photos you take, including exposure. I talk more about this in my Beginner DSLR course!

Correct exposure in post-processing (editing)…

If you have a photo you love but feel that it is too dark or too light, this can easily be fixed by simple editing.

If the photo is on your phone, tap on “edit” on your photo and choose the “exposure” icon. You can then increase or decrease your exposure until you get the desired look you’re going for. If you want to use an app to edit your photos there are plenty to choose from: VSCO, Afterlight, A Color Story, and Lightroom are a few.

If you took the photo with a point and shoot of DSLR camera: if editing on your phone is your first choice, you could send the photo to your phone and do your edit there. However, there are so many editing programs you can use to edit your photos on your computer. I use Adobe Lightroom, which may be a little overwhelming if you’re just starting out editing photos. A few other more basic programs you could look into would be iPhoto, Picasa, Pixlr, and PicMonkey (you have to pay for this one, though). This is just a short list, I’m sure there are plenty other options you may already use or know about, too.

Editing is a fun way to enhance your photos, but I can’t stress enough that the better you’re able to take your photo IN CAMERA, the easier and better quality your photo will be after you edit. I would highly encourage you to practice the skills to get it right when you initially take the photo, rather than always having to fix it in post-processing.

Tip 3: Consider Composition

Simply put, composition is the way objects are positioned in the frame. If you are mindful of how you do this, your photograph can be more visually appealing and interesting to the viewer. Here are some pointers when thinking about the composition of your photo:

Rule of Thirds

Imagine your frame is divided into equal thirds, both horizontally and vertically, so that the frame contains a 3x3 grid. Place your point of interest along an intersecting lines to create a more dynamic image that draws your eye to the subject.

On a phone camera, compose your photo the way you would like, tap on your subject to focus, then snap the photo.

On a dslr, you will want to focus on your subject first. Once your focus is locked in, you can then recompose (move what you see in your viewfinder to the position you want it), then take the photo.

Symmetry

Maybe you want a more “balanced” look to your photo. Symmetry creates consistency and balance between the two halves of your photo (horizontally or vertically). When using symmetry, place the point of interest in an area of your frame so that there is equal spacing horizontally, vertically, or on all sides of your subject.

Use Leading Lines

Sometimes you will have leading lines in your frame. Use them to your advantage! Our eyes are naturally drawn along and down lines, so this can lead the focus to your subject. Plus, leading lines can look really neat in photos! Keep your eyes open for how you can use them in your shots.

Keep it Straight

While we’re on the topic of lines… If you have lines in your photograph (horizontal or vertical) try your best to keep them straight. For example, if you are taking a photo of your children at the beach with the ocean in the background, try to keep the horizon line straight. It would look pretty odd if the horizon is tilted, and rather than admiring how adorable your kids look the viewer’s brain would be trying to figure out why something seems “off” about your photo.

Doing this in camera (when you actually take the photo) is always best, but this can easily be fixed in post-processing/editing afterwards.

You’ll notice in the image below of my daughter, there are both horizontal and vertical lines. It can be hard when you have multiple types of lines in your photograph - all of them may not always look straight. I try to find the most prominent line that jumps out at the viewer and make sure that looks as straight as possible without throwing the other lines out of whack.

Move your feet!

Kelly Lovan Photography | photography lessons

Moving closer to, farther away from, above, below, or on the same level of your subject is a great way to create more interest and creativity to your photo. Before taking the photo, consider why you are taking it in the first place. Is it because your little girl’s curls are falling into her face so adorably? Then maybe you can get a little closer and fill the frame with those beautiful bouncy curls! Thinking and shooting from different perspectives is so fun and brings more of a documentary style to your photos that help tell a story about what you’re capturing.

Kelly Lovan Photography | online photo tips

tip 4: Pay attention to your background

Let’s talk backgrounds! If you’re able to choose your background, it will help to know what type of photograph you’re trying to take and WHY you are taking it.

If you’re wanting to take a photo that’s more focused on the details of your subject (whether it be a person, still object, product, etc), then you’ll want to try to use a more simple, solid, and/or plain background. This ensures that the viewer’s eye is drawn to the subject of your photo rather than what’s going on around it. My goal for the two photos below was to capture my children’s sweet details. I always like to get birthday “milestone” photos of my kids each year, and these were for their 2nd and 5th birthdays. For these, I like to try and keep the background as simple as possible. When indoors, I like to try to find a wall or space that isn’t very busy to be in the background. This can be hard because we don’t have many spaces like that in our home! When indoors, it’s also a good idea to try to position your subject near a window to get pretty natural light.

When outdoors, I like to use a backdrop that’s pretty but not too distracting. This can also be hard since you don’t always have control of your location and backdrop, but keep your eyes open and get creative and chances are you can find a good spot.

When it comes to the personal photography I take of my children and family or a more regular basis, I think from a different perspective. To me, the background is what helps tell the story of whatever moment I’m capturing. It may not always be pretty (it’s usually not, because our life is pretty chaotic most of the time!) but I know that one day when I look back on these photos (and when my children look back) the things they see in the background are going to remind them of memories, moments, and snapshots of their past.

In the photos below you will notice that the background and surroundings are nothing but plain. It’s messy, a bit chaotic, and not very pretty. It may even take away from the subjects of my photo a little bit. But that’s okay with me. Why is it okay? Because what’s in the background of these photos help tell the story of the moment, and when I look back on them I’m going to be taken right back to those memories. I’ve included a caption to go along with each photo below to let you in why these photos are special to me, and how the background plays a role in the memories documented.

COVID-19 Holiday Memories - when we were extra cautious and spent many visits hanging out in my parents’ garage to keep them extra safe. On this day we made ornaments and the kids helped my mom decorate a Christmas tree (yes, in the garage!)

So when thinking about your background - first think, why am I taking this photo?

Maybe you’re taking a sweet milestone photo or portrait of someone and you want to focus specifically on them, or it’s a holiday and your kids are dressed up and looking so cute… Choosing a more simple or less distracting backdrop may be good so that the focus is easily on your subject.

Or maybe you’re snapping a photo or a moment from an ordinary day, a fun or sweet moment, or something your children and/or family love to do in this season of life. Then I say don’t be afraid of your background, even if it’s messy. It may not look as “pretty” as photos you see with perfectly set backdrops, but I guarantee one day when you look back on these photos you’ll feel more emotion from that image because of all the memories that are resurfaced… Even ones you didn’t anticipate whenever you took the shot.

tip 5: understand your lighting

I’ve learned that one of the greatest impacts on the quality of your photos is lighting. It’s so important to notice the lighting around you when you’re taking a photo and how it’s falling on your subject.

There are so many different types of lighting. I’m including a handful of examples below and what you should know about each to help improve the photos you take in each particular lighting situation.

Light Type: Shade

Kelly Lovan Photography | understanding light in photography

Full sun can be pretty tricky to shoot photos in. Full sun can create very harsh shadows on your subject and that lovely “squinty eyed” look if the person is looking towards the sun. If possible, move your subject to a shaded area that provides more open and even lighting.

*The most important thing to remember when doing this is try to turn your subject so they are facing where the light is going from.

Take the example below - the shade my daughter is in is coming from the row of trees behind her. On the opposite side (which is where I was taking the photo from) was open skies and full sun. Since her face was towards the open sky, the lighting is falling more evenly on her face. If she had been facing the row of trees, the lighting on her face would be much darker and more shadowed.

If you ever question which direction your subject should face, simply have your subject turn in different directions and see which angle allows the light to fall more flattering onto the face. Trust me, I know that with children it can be VERY hard to get them to sit in one place the way you want them to, let alone for more than a couple of seconds. However, if you have the opportunity to be more intentional with this type of light I definitely think you will see a difference in your photo!

Light Type: Overcast

Kelly Lovan Photography | light and photography

I know overcast days aren’t the prettiest, but it’s actually a great opportunity to get some really beautiful photos without battling harsh light. You can go outside basically any time of the day at any location and not have to worry about avoiding really intense lighting areas. Overcast lighting offers even lighting on your subject which makes it much easier when you shoot.

I suggest that you still pay attention to how the light falls on your subject. If you are really closer to a closed space, such as a row of trees like the above photo of a big building, try facing your subject away from it so the light is even more flattering on their face. Try different angles, (when you can) and see what you think looks best!

Kelly Lovan Photography | undestanding photography light

Light Type: Full Sun

Kelly Lovan Photography | how to take photos in full sun

Full sun can be the trickiest of lighting types to photograph in because the light can be so intense, causing harsh shadows and under or over exposed photos (too dark or too bright). This is when it’s handy to know how to shoot in manual mode with your dslr camera. I will cover this subject in more detail in my Beginner’s DSLR course but, but for now here’s a couple tips that could help!

If there are any shaded areas nearby, try moving your subject.
If shade is not available, try shooting from different angles and perspectives.
If possible, avoid having your subject look at the camera (especially if the sun would be directly in their eyes). Candid photos can work really great in full sun lighting!
Try turning your subject so the sun is hitting them more at an angle.
Focus on your subject and adjust exposure so that their face is properly exposed. If using a phone, tap on your subject’s face, hold down, and move the exposure bar up or down to increase or decrease the light. If that doesn’t work, do a quick google search for how to increase/decrease exposure on the make and model of your phone.
If the sun is at your subject’s back (behind them) then your photo will probably be too dark. Increase your exposure so that your subject is better exposed. This may make your background very bright, so try to increase your exposure so that it isn’t completely blown out.
If the sun is facing your subject (whether directly or from the side) then you will probably need to decrease your exposure so that their face and skin isn’t over exposed (too bright). This may make your background darker, but as long as your subject is properly exposed I think you’re good!

Full sun can be challenging to shoot in, but don’t let that stop you! If you want to capture a moment that’s happening, do it! A photo that’s too dark or too bright can typically be fixed in post processing, so don’t worry too much about getting it perfect.

The more you practice, the easier it gets. I actually love shooting in full sun now because it creates such a vibrant, contrasty look!

Light Type: Filtered Sun

Kelly Lovan Photography | backlighting in photography

This is another way to help decrease the intensity of light when you’re working with bright sun. However, it’s very hard to do midday when the sun is directly overhead (because there’s nothing that could really filter the light other than a cloud). Filtering the sunlight is much easier to do earlier in the day and in the afternoon/evening. Filtering the sun is when you’re able to position your subject and angle your shot so that the sun is behind a different object (like a tree). In the photos below you can see that the sunlight was being filtered through the trees, which made the lighting much more flattering and less intense on my subject.

This type of lighting is also known as backlighting. It’s one of my favorites!

Kelly Lovan Photography | photography and lighting

Light Type: Open/Blue Hour

I’ll be honest, I’m not exactly sure if this is the correct term for this light but it needs to be shared! Blue hour is the term used to describe immediately before and after the sun sets. You have a small chunk of time when there’s still enough light to capture really beautiful photos with “open”, even lighting. It’s another favorite of mine!

It’s much easier to capture photos at this time when you are in an open space, such as the beach or an area without a lot of trees.

Kelly Lovan Photography | how to take photos on the beach

Lighting Type: Indoor (Natural) Light

Kelly Lovan Photography | indoor photography tips

If possible, I always recommend using natural light when shooting indoor photos. To put it simply, turn off the artificial light in the room you are shooting in (overhead lighting, lamps, etc) and use the natural light coming through your window. I know this isn’t always possible depending on the time of day and how much natural light your home gets, so if you need to leave artificial light on I suggest using lamps, not overhead light (this will reduce the harsh shadows that overhead lighting creates).

If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your home, you can first try moving your subject toward a window. This creates one of my favorite types of moody vibes in photographs. Moving close to a window can create pretty lighting on your subject but also moody shadows in the background. Make sure your subject’s face is facing toward the window light, if you can. Then expose for their skin (make sure their face isn’t too dark or too bright).

If you have a dslr camera, the body of your camera and the lens you have can help tremendously when taking indoor photos. I talk more about this in my Beginner’s DSLR course.

So there you have it! Five photography tips that can help you take better photos, starting today.

I know that’s a lot to digest and process. My biggest piece of advice would be to take one tip at a time and practice until you’ve got the hang of it. This ensure you won’t get overwhelmed or frustrated. With time and practice, these steps will come easily and naturally when you pick up your camera!

Want more photography tips and freebies?

Check out the Photography Freebies & Resources page here.

If there’s other topics you’d love to learn about let me know in the comments below!

Photography Tips: How to Improve the Photos You Take Today | Southern Indiana Newborn and Family Photographer