So, you’ve just taken a bunch of shots, excitedly uploaded them to your computer, but feel deflated when you finally see them on the screen.
You know that something isn’t right, but you can’t quite put your finger on what’s missing. What do you do about it? Well, to be honest, there is no silver bullet to making a professional picture. It often takes years of experience and practice. However, as a photographer, you will always find new strategies that can dramatically improve the appearance of your photos. By keeping certain tips in mind, you will be able to make your photos look more professional without editing.
Getting great, artistic, professional-looking images without editing is nothing but a puzzle. There are lots of different ingredients and factors that go into any one image. The more of these right factors; the more “wow” your image is! This blog is full of amazing photography tips that will make your photos look extremely professional without editing.
Let’s go!
Focus on Capturing Interesting Light
We are going to give you a mantra when it comes to capturing excellent, professional photographs. Focus on lighting first then location to get the best professional shots. With this line drumming in your head, you already have a great base for any photograph.
When it comes to capturing incredible professional photos, lighting is the number one thing that you need to consider. For beginners, it is often the most overlooked aspect of photography, but experienced photographers are obsessed with it. Lighting is vital when it comes to making a photo look professional without any kind of editing. So before you capture your subject, think about where the light is and the best ways to use it to document a professional photograph that needs little to no editing.
There are a lot of creative and unique ways to light a subject when you are shooting for professional shots. This includes light from behind, from the front, from the side, and so on, but which light to use is completely dependent on your photography vision and the type of light you’re working with. The opportunities are endless! All you have to do is move around your subject and try capturing different angles to make the light more interesting.
One of the biggest and easiest lighting photography tips is that to find good light, just use your eyes. If your subject is squinting at you or has hot spots over them (referring to the area where the bright sun is hitting them) then the image is surely not going to be flattering, no matter how good your photoshop skills are. The same is true if the subject you are photographing is in darkness with no light reaching them. The basic point of working with light is if it doesn’t look to your naked eye; it won’t look good on camera either!
Here are some tips to get you started:
Until you’re completely comfortable with your lighting skills, try avoiding shooting on sunny days, especially during noon. It gets complicated to capture a good professional photo at noon because the sun is directly overhead.
Cloudy days are the best, as the sun is diffused by clouds giving a softer light. If you want a “wow” factor in your professional photographs, go out and take photos about one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise. These are the best times to get incredible professional shots.
Use The Aperture Wisely
By simply correcting the aperture for the scene you are trying to capture, you can easily add an amazing professional touch to all your captured shots. Whether you are capturing a single person, going for a family portrait session, or photographing a landscape, auto mode for your aperture is perfect. While shooting professional shots, just make sure to leave enough wiggle room by using a slightly smaller aperture until you’re comfortable with your focus.
Choosing your aperture correctly can create “bokeh”- a blurred area right behind your subject. This blur effect will give some separation between the background and the subject with excellent results. Just make sure that you have everything you need in focus.
There are times when keeping aperture on auto does not help in documenting great pictures. Such as, when you want everything in the frame to be sharp, for instance, a landscape. In that case, you need to tailor your aperture to what you are documenting and the result you want.
If you ask us, as a general non-specific rule, if you are capturing formal portraits, especially for one person, using an aperture of somewhere about F2.8 or F3.2 is usually a good bet. It will give stunning professional shots which probably won’t need much editing afterward.
Say No To Aberrations
When it comes to photography, an aberration is something that is left in the picture that is either not needed or does not belong in the photo. It makes the captured image feel cluttered with distractions that usually keep the viewer from relishing the subject with full focus and attention. These aberrations are commonly seen around the edges of the frame. It is easy for a photographer to pay close attention to the person they are documenting, forgetting about a piece of trash in the background, a weird telephone pole in the distance, or something similar. So, while you are going in for a professional photo shoot session, make sure that the background is clear with no such unwanted elements.
Crisp Sharpness Will Bring The Best Detail in Your Professional Photos Without Editing
When it comes to photography, there are endless factors that affect the sharpness of professionally captured photos. At times, it is difficult to know what is causing a reduction in sharpness. Crisp sharpness always brings out the best in photos, making them look professional and beautiful without editing. The key to keeping your photos sharp is making sure you maintain your focus. When you are capturing a portrait session, make sure you are keeping the focus point exactly on the person you are photographing. This will surely produce the best shots you and your clients will love.
Pay Close Attention to Your Surroundings
The next thing that makes a huge difference to your images is taking a visual sweep of the frame before your shot. Ensure that no distractions or anything is pulling the eye from your subject. If there is something, take a moment or two to quickly move it out of the way, or try using a different angle to block it out.
There are bound to be times when you look back at the images and realize that you missed something! Unless it is merging with your subject in the photograph, it’s usually fairly easy to remove it in processing.
Don’t Forget to Straighten it Out!
This is one of the easiest ways to automatically make your photos look incredible. It’s simple; look at the horizon line first, then straighten out your camera. You can also use the lines of buildings or other architecture as your reference point. Doing this will undoubtedly make your professional shots look much nicer and more appealing to the eyes.
Watch Out for Limb Chops While Photographing Professionally
If you want your photos to look more professional and elegant without adding a hint of editing, avoid this mistake at any cost. Just pay close attention before you press that shutter to ensure that the person you are capturing is completely in the frame with all their limbs intact
With these elements in mind, your photography results will be mind-blowing. We hope this blog has helped you in your photography.
