5 tips for better photos in 2018

Everyone is a photographer it seems these days. The fact that just about everyone has a camera in their pocket or purse in their smartphones these days means that more people are taking photos more often. Whether it’s selfies or photos of other people or things, more and more people are taking pictures.

So, in this new year here’s a few tips for making sure those photos are better than last year’s photos.

1. First and foremost, make sure your photos are in focus. I think some people are a little blind to blurry photos. They proudly post photos they took with their phone but the photos are blurry. If you look at them far away enough they look OK, but take a look at them in a larger size. You often will notice a softness or blurriness in the subject. What you must do is hold the phone absolutely still and don’t move it immediately after pressing the shoot button. If you touch the screen of the phone where the subject is placed, you may notice a small box pop up on the phone. This box will ensure that the subject is in focus.
2. Check your lighting. Don’t point your camera toward a bright object like the sun and have your subject stand in front and expect to get a great photo. The bright light behind will throw off your exposure and make anything in front dark. You have two options. Make sure the flash is on and prepared to shoot on the camera. OR turn so that the bright light is to your side or your back, which will light your subject. Just make sure if your subject is a person, he or she is not staring into the sun and squinting.
3. Watch your background. A busy background will spoil any photo. Try to shoot so there’s not people or distracting elements in the background. And make sure you don’t have an object in the background look like it’s coming out of your subject’s head. Simply move yourself or move the subject so the background is pleasing and not distracting.
4. Shoot in portrait mode if you can. The newer phones have a portrait mode on their camera. Read up on how to use this and use it when you are photographing your subject. This will help blur that background and put the attention on your subject.